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-■ 



NATHANIEL MASSIE, 



A PIONEER OF OHIO. 



A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE 



AND 



SELECTIONS FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE. 



BY 

DAVID MEADE MASSIE. 



93 7$ti 



CINCINNATI: 

THE ROBERT CLARKE COMPANY. 

1896. 



(V^\i> 









Copyright, 1896, 
By DAVID MEADE MASSIF,. 









To the Memory of My Father, 
HENRY MASSIE, 

THE YOUNGEST CHILD OF 

GENERAL NATHANIEL MASSIE. 



PREFACE. 



Any one who studies the early history of Ohio will soon dis- 
cover that its birth as a state was due to a conflict between Gen- 
eral Arthur St. Clair, the Territorial Governor, and certain citi- 
zens of Chillicothe who were called Democrats ; that St. Clair 
was overthrown, and that these Chillicotheans obtained Ohio's 
admission into the Union under a constitution framed by them, 
and that they formed a state government and for many years 
largely administered its affairs. 

And the student of history who seeks to study these events 
and the motives of the chief actors therein, will also soon discover 
that the side of General St. Clair and his followers has been fully 
set forth by Burnet, Cutler, and the St. Clair papers, enlarged 
by many historians, and given due prominence in all works 
covering that period. But he will ask in vain for any auto- 
biography, or history, stating the case of the Chillicothe party, 
for there is none ; nor is this in any way remarkable, for the 
Chillicotheans were of Virginia origin, a people little given to 
writing of their political achievements, being better satisfied with 
exerting influence and making history. "Esse quam videre" 
should be their epitaph. 

This year being the centennial anniversary of the settlement 
of Chillicothe, seems to be a most fitting time for placing before 
the world a statement of the case of her founder and his fol- 
lowers ; to claim for them a fair share of the credit due them 
among the makers of Ohio, and to secure for them the historical 
recognition, which they so well deserve. 

This little work, while primarily an account of the life of 
Nathaniel Massie, aims at presenting him as one of a certain 
class of men, as a representative of the rising Democracy of one 
hundred years ago, as a factor in a political movement, and as 
an historical quantity. 

To rightly understand any man's life, one must consider 

(v) 



vi Preface. 

the time in which he lived and the circumstances which sur- 
rounded him, hence a brief review of the early political history 
. of our country is necessary before beginning the life of Nathaniel 
Massie. 

After the close of the revolutionary war, the overwhelming 
necessity for the existence of a federal government caused men 
of many minds to unite in securing the adoption of the Consti- 
tution of the United States. As soon as it had been put into 
operation, two schools of political belief concerning its true in- 
terpretation sprung into being: One, the Federalist, led by 
Alexander Hamilton, favored a strong central government with 
ample powers ; another, the Republican, led by Thomas Jeffer- 
son, advocated as much individual liberty as possible, a strict 
limitation of the powers of the national government and the 
building up of the influence of the states. Fortunately, at the 
beginning, Hamilton, under Washington's two administrations, 
had his way and secured an effective federal power. When John 
Adams was elected President, he endeavored to continue in the 
course of Hamilton, and for a time events seemed to favor him, 
especially the folly of the French friends of the American Repub- 
licans ; but the moment of his greatest triumph, the publication 
of the X, Y, and Z dispatches, was t he beginning of his down- 
fall. Feeling secure of their position, the Federalists enacted the 
Alien and Sedition laws. Then Jefferson saw his opportunity 
and drew a vivid picture of what was to follow, calling the at- 
tention of his friends to the situation in such words as these: 
"The Alien and Sedition laws are working hard. I fancy that 
some of the State Legislatures will take strong ground on this 
occasion. For my own part, I consider those laws as only an 
experiment on the American mind to see how far it will bear an 
avowed violation of the Constitution. If this goes down, we 
shall immediately see attempted another act of Congress declar- 
ing that the President shall continue in office during life, re- 
serving to another occasion the transfer of the succession to his 
heirs and the establishment of the Senate for life. At least this 
may be the aim of the Oliveriaus, while Monk and the Cavaliers 
(who are perhaps the strongest) maybe playing their game for 
the restoration of his most gracious Majesty, George the Third. 



Preface. vii 

That these things are in contemplation, I have no doubt." The 
whole country was soon aroused, public meetings were held, and 
the Legislatures of Virginia and Kentucky adopted their famous 
resolutions of 1798 ; a perfect tidal wave of Democratic feeling 
swept over the whole country, and soon gave Jefferson and his 
party control of the National Government for many years. 
Especially in Kentucky did Democracy flourish, for in no quarter 
was individualism, naturally, so popular. 

In reading the life of Nathaniel Massie, it must be borne in 
mind that he and his followers were Virginians by birth and 
Kentuckians by training ; that the Democratic Republicans of 
these states were their personal friends, and that they fully 
shared their opinion as to the powers of government and the 
rights of the individual. From this standpoint, Nathaniel Massie 
appears as a man in sympathy with his times and race, as a man 
filled with the spirit of his age carrying forward its ideas in his 
own community, and this explains the hearty and steady response 
of the people to his political leadership. 

The materials for this work were found in the correspondence 
and papers of Nathaniel Massie— a part of which are, for the 
first time, here published in the many general histories which 
cover that period and in the following books, which bear especially 
on the subject: McDonald's Sketches, The St. Clair Papers, 
Burnet's Notes on the Early Settlement of the North-western 
Territory, The Autobiography of the Rev. James B. Finley, Life 
Among the Indians by the Rev. James B. Finley, The Laws of 
Warrants, Entries, Surveys, and Patents in the Virginia Military 
District in Ohio, by Henry Folsom Page, The History of Ohio 
by Rufus King, Journal of the Constitutional Convention of 
1802, and in the Journals of the various General Assemblies. 

Much use has been made of these, especially McDonald's 
Sketches, and full credit has in each instance been given. 

It is to be regretted that many of Nathaniel Massie's letters 
and papers have been lost since his death, but enough remain 
to throw much light on his times. The letters written by Gov- 
ernor Worthington and Judge Byrd, which are here published 
for the first time, are of great value; as they, at last, disclose 
the motives and hopes of the early anti-Federalists of Ohio, and 



viii Prefact . 

in themselves give an admirable history of the contest for state- 
hood from their standpoint. It is to be hoped that adequate 
lives of Massie's friends and fellow-workers, Edward Tiffin, 
Thomas Worthington, and Charles Willing Byrd, will soon be 
written, for until this is done, no complete history of Ohio can be 
published. 

Brief explanations concerning the writers of the various let- 
ters will be found in Appendix A. 

A few old miscellaneous papers are given in Appendix B as 
throwing some light on the early days of Chillicothe and her 
citizens. 

DAVID MEADE MASSIE. 

Chillicothe, Ohio, June 3, 1896. 



CONTENTS. 



PAET FIRST. 

CHAPTER I. 

Virginia — Family and Early Years — Kentucky 11 

CHAPTER II. 

The North-west Territory — The Virginia Military District — The 

Land System — Surveying Adventures 23 

CHAPTER III. 
The Founding of Manchester and Chillicothe. . . 47 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Government of the North-west Territory — First and Second 
Territorial Legislatures — Conflict between St. Clair and 
Massie— The Beginnings of Politics in Ohio — The Triumph 
of Democracy — Statehood in Sight 65 

CHAPTER V. 

The Constitutional Convention — Ohio a State — Legislative Serv- 
ices — Contest with Meigs — The Militia 85 

CHAPTER VI. 
Private and Domestic Affairs — Death ; 104 



PART SECOND. 

Selections from Correspondence and Papers 108 



A ppendix A '_'(>!» 

Appendix B 274 

(ix) 



THE LIFE OF NATHANIEL MASSIE. 



PART FIRST. 
CHAPTER I. 

Virginia — Family and Early Years — Kentucky. 

England during the seventeenth century founded 
the American Colonies which have grown to be the 
United States. Of all these, Virginia was most like the 
Mother Country, chartered by King James, the first, its 
government framed by him and settled by men of every 
rank and kind for no other purpose than to better their 
fortunes and to extend the British Empire ; it was in 
all respects modeled on the England of that day, and as 
nearly as possible developed along its lines — the laws, 
customs, manners and ideas of the cavaliers being heart- 
ily adopted by the Virginians. 

The King of Great Britain and Ireland was the 
King of Virginia also, and to him her colonists were 
sincerely loyal. The Established Church was the Vir- 
ginia Church supported by its tithes and an integral 
part of its social and political system. The landed aris- 
tocracy of England found its counterpart in the planters 
of Virginia, most of whom were connected by ties of 
blood with their English prototypes. These classes 

(11) 



12 The Lif( of Nathaniel Massie. 

were the real rulers of their countries ; both based their 
entire political systems on the ownership of land, and 
from it they derived their livings, their luxuries, their 
social and political importance — they lived on it, by it, 
and for it. Their very amusements were such as be- 
came a race of land owners, hunting- and horses being 
the most conspicuous features. The Virginians lived 
well and enjoyed life; they owned large estates which 
easily furnished an abundance of food and clothing for 
their dependents and many luxuries for themselves and 
their families. The superabundance of slaves freed 
them from all manual labor and gave them plenty of 
time for whatever pursuits seemed most pleasant. Their 
business and tastes took them much out of doors and 
gave them the health and physical strength to enjoy 
their own existence and its material blessings. They 
were sure of their social standing and the importance of 
their class. They delighted in associating together and 
vied with each other in lavish hospitality. They had 
enough education to enable them to appreciate the lit- 
erature which the world then possessed and so much of 
the intellectual life of the day as found its way to the 
colonies. They believed in the secular and ecclesiastical 
government under which they lived and did not trouble 
their minds and consciences with those questions so 
dear to their Puritan neighbors in New England. Above 
all, they were perfectly sure of themselves, their place 
in the world, and their relations to God and man. In 
short, they were very well content with existence as 
tiny found it. and were sure it was meant — with a few 
recognized and proper restrictions — for their present en- 



The Life of Nathaniel Ma'ssie. 13 

joyment, and that the Being who had dealt so kindly 
with them in this world could he trusted to do even 
better by them in the next. While their mental and 
material content rendered them self-satisfied, it did not 
make them dull, nor did their loyalty to the crown cause 
them to be blind worshipers of all things English. The}- 
knew that they had interests of their own which could 
and did conflict with those of the Mother Country, and 
these they stoutly upheld against royal governors and 
all others who might menace them. 

In the earlier days, Bacon's rebellion is the most 
striking example of the Virginia spirit of independence. 
Later on, this same spirit produced the Virginia Bill of 
Rights and the Declaration of Independence, overthrew 
the Established Church, and in its fullest strength drove 
out the Federalists and culminated in the triumphant 
Democracy of Jefferson. 

There is apparently an anomaly in a people being 
at the same time country gentlemen of the English type 
and Democrats. 

Yet this is easily explained when their character 
and circumstances are considered. Above all, the Vir- 
ginians believed in themselves and their inalienable 
rights. Self-preservation and self-respect compelled 
them to assert themselves, which they did, justifying 
their conduct by the declaration, " that all men are by 
nature equally free and independent, and have certain 
inalienable rights, namely, the enjoyment of life and 
liberty, with the means of pursuing and obtaining hap- 
piness and safety." Among equals the only possible 
form of government is some kind of a republic. In a 



14 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

new country it is sure to be based on manhood suffrage. 
There was probably little fear of popular rule among 
the Virginia planters; for they knew that with their 
superior intelligence, wealth and position, they could 
easily control matters as they pleased, and this they did 
for generations, their leaders being almost without ex- 
ception of that class, although elected and kept in power 
as Democrats. This they doubtless regarded as an ex- 
ample of the law of natural selection and the survival 
of the fittest. 

Amons the English families which furnished Vir- 
ginia with colonists were the Massies of Chestershire, 
which is their original home, and where many of that 
name may still be found. Charles- Massie, the grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, together with two 
brothers, came from the Mersey to the James about 
1690, and located in New Kent county, Virginia, where 
they had grants of land. Here they married and reared 
large "families which seem to have prospered, for they 
owned rich plantations and many slaves and occupied 
important positions, such as vestrymen, members of the 
J louse of Burgess, and various other local offices. 
About 1700, Nathaniel Massie, Sr., married Elizabeth,. 
eldest daughter of Thomas Watkins, of Chickahonomv. 
and moved to Goochland county on the James river, 
above Richmond, where his father, Charles Massie, had 
several grants of land — here he made his home and 
lived the remainder of his life. lie was a man in com- 
fortable circumstances and stood well in the community. 
being at various times a justice of the peace, member of 
the vestry of St. -lames' parish, Northam, and during 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 15 

the revolution a captain of the Goochland militia, and 
as such saw active service. 

The first child of Nathaniel Massie, Sr., and Eliza- 
beth, his wife, is the subject of this sketch ; he was born 
December 28, 1763, and named in honor of his father, 
Nathaniel. We know but little of his earlier years. 
He had three brothers and a sister. When he was 
eleven, his mother died. Two years later, his father 
married again, and a large number of half brothers and 
sisters were soon added to the family. Nathaniel must 
have been given a substantial education, for he always 
writes good, grammatical English and possessed suf- 
ficient knowledge of mathematics to be a first class sur- 
veyor; his letters show him to have been thoroughly in- 
formed concerning the commercial and political ques- 
tions of his day, and those who knew him always write 
of him as an educated man. The times in which his 
youth was cast were in themselves equal to an educa- 
tion ; the agitation leading to the revolution, the war 
itself, and the ardent discussions involved in the settle- 
ment of the problems which followed it, must have in- 
terested and instructed the dullest minds. 

In 1780 and 1781, when only seventeen years old, 
young Nathaniel Massie served with the militia of his 
county in their campaigns against the British under 
Tarleton, and was probably present at the surrender of 
Oornwallis at Yorktown. 

The close of the revolution brought more to the 
Americans than independence ; it brought many prob- 
lems of statesmanship and finance, social and material 
development. They were free; they possessed an em- 



16 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

pire, much of it as yet barely known to them ; they were 
ignorant alike of their strength and weakness: they 
were vaguely aware of their great opportunities. It was 
only natural that a spirit of unrest should possess them. 
Where should they begin ? What should they do? 
How could they make the most of their splendid 
chances? To the older men with experience and repu- 
tation, the political field was most inviting; to men with 
capital, the established cities and states offered a rich 
field for commercial enterprise; to a young man with 
education and spirit, no part of the country held out 
such attractions as the west. Already Boone, and the 
backwoodsmen who followed him, had filled the land 
with accounts of the great beauty and richness of the 
country beyond the Alleghanies. Toward it the stream 
of emigration had begun to move, willing to bear hard- 
ships and face dangers for the sake of entering into and 
possessing it. 

Among those who decided to seek their fortunes in 
I be west, was young Nathaniel Massie, who in 1783, 
when only twenty, set out for Kentucky. He did not 
go as a penniless soldier of fortune; Daniel Boone had 
already located lands in Kentucky for Nathaniel Massie, 
Sr. — these be gave to his son, as also an outfit and some 
capital. Other Virginians commissioned him to locate 
land for them; and lie was provided with letters of in- 
troduction from men of standing at home to the leaders 
of the Kentucky settlements, most of whom were also 
natives of Virginia. 

In ITS:;. Kentucky had been settled about ten years, 
but bad grown very slowly (.wing to the revolution in 



The Life of Nathaniel 3Iassie. 17 

the east and the constant Indian warfare around her. The 
population at that time is estimated to have been twelve 
thousand, but this was scattered over much space and 
civilization was most primitive. There were only two 
stores in the state and the people still lived inside 
stockades with block-houses to protect them from the 
ever menacing savages. In fact, no man's life was safe 
from these skulking enemies after he left the frontier 
settlements east of the Alleghanies ; and wherever he 
went and whatever he did it was always necessary to 
have his rifle at hand ready for instant use. It is said 
that in Kentucky between 1783 and 1790 more than 
fifteen hundred persons were either killed or, worse yet, 
captured by the Indians. The man who came to Ken- 
tucky at that time entered upon a struggle for existence, 
which was constant and severe, and in which he was 
obliged to rely wholly on himself. The innumerable 
hardships and ceaseless dangers must have tried the 
souls of the very bravest, but these people were of the 
strongest stock which the Anglo-Saxon race ever sent 
forth, and have never failed to hold their own in any 
contest with man or nature. 

These were the people with whom Xathaniel Massie 
cast his lot and began his career. He entered at once 
into the active life of the settlements, dividing his time 
between locating lands and commercial enterprises. 

The surveyors played an important part in the win- 
ning of the west ; it was their business to explore the 
countiy, select good lands for their employers, and so 
mark and describe them that their owners and others 
could identify them. The business was attended with 



18 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

much danger and many hardships as well as with con- 
siderable profit; the surveyor, when entrusted with the 
choosing of land, often receiving as much as one-half 
of it for his services. A great many young men of 
education and position adopted this calling — Washing- 
ton himself, in his earlier days, having been of the 
number. 

" Massie," says McDonald, " as he was young and 
extremely active, and one of the best footmen in the 
west, soon became an expert woodsman, to be which 
was an indispensable qualification of a land locator, 
as the country was then an entire and unbroken wilder- 
ness. No roads, or even paths, led from one part to the 
other ; and besides these difficulties, the restless Indians 
were continually on the alert to surprise and cut off 
surveying parties. The surveyors, too, had to explore 
the country, in order to find the most fertile lands, and 
in doing this they were obliged to traverse the woods in 
every direction, guess at courses, and judge of distances. 
Young Massie soon became an expert surveyor, and it 
was a matter of astonishment (as he was raised in the 
dense population east of the mountains) how soon he 
acquired the science and habits of the backwoodsmen. 
Although he never practiced the art of hunting he was 
admitted by all, who knew his qualifications as a woods- 
man, to be of the first order. He could steer his course 
truly in clear or cloudy weather, and compute distances 
more correctly than most of the old hunters. He could 
endure fatigue and hunger with more composure than 
the most of those persons who were inured to want on 
the frontier. He could live upon meat without bread, 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 19 

and bread without meat, and was perfectly cheerful and 
contented with his fare. In all the perilous situations 
in which he was placed he was always conspicuous for 
his good feeling and the happy temperament of his 
mind. His courage was of a cool and dispassionate 
character, which added to great circumspection in times 
of danger, gave him a complete ascendency over his 
companions, who were always willing to follow when 
Massie led the way." 

Massie, at times, turned aside from his land busi- 
ness to take part in commercial ventures — thus we find 
him in 1786 trading in salt and furs in partnership with 
General James Wilkinson, who at that time was one of 
the most prominent men in Kentucky. Salt was the 
most expensive article which the western people were 
obliged to buy and furs were the most valuable which 
they had to sell, so this trading should have yielded 
handsome profits. Massie must have been successful in 
both his land and commercial affairs, for he rapidly ac- 
cumulated property, and at the time he began his life's 
work in the North-West Territory in 1791, he was con- 
sidered a man of means. 

What he did and what he acquired in his Kentucky 
days are of little moment in comparison with the value 
of the experience and the associations of which he had 
the benefit. The constant contact with men and nature, 
and the ever present necessity of holding his own, must 
have developed his courage, tact, and self-reliance, and 
prepared him to become a leader of pioneers. In a 
frontier life men are valued in accordance with their 
strength, skill and bravery ; so that any tendency to 



20 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

judge men by the Virginia standards was modified to a 
truly Democratic tone ; and Kentucky had become a very 
hot-bed of Democracy. Kentucky politics during these 
years were full of interest, the question of separation 
from Virginia and independent statehood being first; 
then came the new federal constitution and govern- 
ment; after these, and involved with them, were the 
Indian wars, British possession of the military posts 
on the Great Lakes, and the navigation of the Missis- 
sippi. 

There was almost unanimity of sentiment on these 
questions: people differed only as to the way of securing 
their desires; all wanted Kentucky to be an independent 
commonwealth, and cared little for the new national 
government, which seemed more likely to hinder than 
to help them in dealing with the Indians and their 
British backers along the lakes, or with the Spaniards 
who held the Mississippi and closed it against them. 
They knew that they were free Americans and fretted at 
any restraint placed on them whether by state or nation, 
they felt abundantly able to deal with the difficulties 
and dangers which beset them, and to settle these prob- 
lems to their own entire satisfaction. These people 
were not by any means mere ignorant backwoodsmen, 
but many of them were educated men who took an in- 
telligent interest in all the questions of the day. 

A striking example of this is found in the political 
club formed in Danville in 1786, and which debated 
mo>i subjects of current importance. Jefferson was the 
chosen philosopher and prophet of these people, his po- 
litical ideas pleased them, and this one thing is certain — 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 21 

whatever maybe said or thought of him — of all Ameri- 
can statesmen, Jefferson most fully appreciated the pos- 
sibilities of the west and alwa}'s advocated and ad- 
vanced her interests ; he was in deed and in truth her 
best friend. Living among such men and in such times, 
it is not strange that a young man like Massie became a 
Democrat in his political convictions, believing that the 
state was made for man and that the best government 
was that which gave the greatest liberty to the individ- 
ual, and that no free American needed any paternal su- 
pervision of his affairs, and that the. more fully each was 
allowed to act for himself the better — in this, we shall 
find an explanation of the whole political life of Na- 
thaniel Massie. 

Before the scene of this narrative is transferred to 
the territory north-west of the river Ohio, where Xa- 
thaniel Massie's life work was done, it will be well to 
consider him as he was about to begin his career. 

Born and reared in Virginia, he had the manners 
and social feelings of his state and people ; educated by 
the revolution and the political discussions in Kentucky, 
he was a thorough Democrat; nearl} 7 ten years' success- 
ful contact with men and danger had developed him 
mentally and morally, so that he was a natural leader of 
men ; his reputation as a locator of lands and a surveyor 
had brought him much business, and enabled him to es- 
tablish financial relations in the east which were of 
great value. Of his personal appearance it is said : He 
was tall and "an uncommonly fine-looking young man ; 
his form was slender, well made, and muscular, and was 



22 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

calculated, from his good constitution and uncommon 
activity, to endure fatigue, exposure, and privations in 
an eminent degree. That his countenance was open 
and expressive of great energy and good sense, and well 
suited to gain favor from men of enterprise." 



The Life of Nathaniel Ma&su . 23 



CHAPTER II. 

The North-West Territory— The Virginia Military District— The 
Land System — Surveying Adventures. 

The territory north-west of the river Ohio from 
which were formed Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan 
and Wisconsin was first explored and settled by the 
French ; wrested from them by the English in 1759, and 
in time, taken from Great Britain by the Virginians 
under General George Rogers Clark in 1778. The 
treaty of Paris in 1783 confirmed the title of the United 
States to this vast domain, but by no means decided its 
ownership, for not less than four of the original thirteen 
states laid exclusive claim to more or less of it by reason 
of their charters. For a while, it seemed as if the very 
life of the young nation would be imperiled by this 
quarrel, but at last patriotism prevailed, and the states 
all ceded their individual claims to the nation. In 1787, 
Congress constituted this territory a district for the pur- 
poses of government; at that time, it was an unbroken 
wilderness in every sense, its only inhabitants being 
either hostile Indians or ignorant French habitants ; 
little, if any, thought was given to these by the framers 
of the ordinance for the government of this land ; they 
rose to the dignity of prophetic vision and did their 
work with a view of what was to be — the result of their 
labor was the ordinance of 1787, one of the greatest 
monuments of American statesmanship. 



24 77m Lif< of Nathaniel Massie. 

The questions concerning" the ownership and gov- 
ernment of the territory having been settled, Congress 
soon had applications from persons who desired to pur- 
chase lands. The first sale was to the Ohio Company, 
which secured about a million and half of acres along 
the Oliio and Muskingum rivers, and in 1788, took 
actual possession and founded their town of Marietta. 
The next purchase in importance was made by John 
Cleves Symmes and his associates, and embraced a 
million acres on the north bank of the Ohio between 
the two Miami rivers; on this, Cincinnati was founded 
in 1788. 

The Ohio Company was made up of New England 
men. Symmes and his associates were from the Middle 
States; no southern company was formed to buy lands 
in this region, probably for the reason that Virginia, 
when ceding her claims, had reserved a portion of it for 
her own purposes. 

Virginia voted her revolutionary soldiers large 
bounties in lands and set apart a tract on Green river in 
Kentucky for the purpose of satisfying them ; it becom- 
ing evident that these lands would probably not be suf- 
ficient to meet her obligations, Virginia, in 1783, when 
she ceded her claims to the North-West Territory to 
the United States, inserted the following stipulation in 
the act of cession: -That in case the quantity of good 
land on the south-east side of the Ohio, upon the waters 
of Cumberland river, and between the Green and Ten- 
nessee rivers, which have been reserved by law, for the 
Virginia troops upon continental establishment, should, 
from the North Carolina line bearing in further upon 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 25 

the Cumberland lands than was expected, prove insuffi- 
cient for these legal bounties, the deficiency should be 
made up to the said troops in good lands, to be laid off 
between the rivers Scioto and Little Miami, on the 
north-west side of the river Ohio, in such proportion- as 
have been engaged to them by the laws of Virginia." 

The land embraced ill this reservation constitutes 
the Virginia Military District in Ohio, and comprehends 
the counties of Adams, Brown, Clinton, Clermont, 
Highland, Fayette, Madison and Union, and a portion 
of Scioto, Pike, Ross, Pickaway, Franklin, Delaware, 
Marion, Hardin, Logan, Clark, Greene, Champaign, 
Warren and Hamilton. 

This district containing 4,209,800 acres is the largest 
reservation or grant in Ohio, and embraces the very best 
and richest of her agricultural lands. "It was reported 
to the Executive of Virginia that a deficiency of good 
lands upon the waters of the Cumberland, now provided 
for in the act of cession, existed, and Congress passed 
an act, August 10, 1790, authorizing locations to be made 
between the waters of the Little Miami and the Scioto 
rivers." Until the passage of this act, the Virginia 
Military District was legally closed to the surveyors and 
locators, which partly accounts for the date of its settle- 
ment being later than that of the Ohio Company's and 
Symmes' purchases ; but another reason is found in the 
fact that it was more exposed to danger from the In- 
dians than either of the others. Marietta was founded 
under the shadow of Fort Harmar ; Fort Washington 
and its garrison of regulars watched over Cincinnati's 
early da} 7 s. At no time were the pioneers of the Vir- 



2G The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

ginia Military District protected by any federal troops, 
and their chosen field of action was most dangerous, for 
the region embraced between the Scioto and Little 
Miami was the home of the Shawnees, the most intelli- 
gent and warlike of all the Algonquin tribes. Here 
they had their towns and their corn-fields, and here they 
were resolved to die rather than give up their fertile val- 
leys and beautiful hills. These Indians infested the 
Ohio river front of the Virginia Military District, mak- 
ing their head-quarters at the mouth of the Scioto and 
waging a ruthless and relentless warfare on all who came 
within their reach. Burnet says concerning this place : 
" The pioneers who descended the Ohio, on their way 
westward, will remember while they live the lofty rock 
standing a short distance above the mouth of the Scioto, 
on the Virginia shore, which was occupied for years by 
the savages as a favorite watch-tower, from which boats, 
ascending and descending, could be discovered at a great 
distance. From that memorable spot, hundreds of hu- 
man beings, men, women and children, while uncon- 
scious of immediate danger, have been seen in the dis- 
tance and marked for destruction. The murders and 
depredations committed in that vicinity at all periods of 
the war were so shocking as to attract universal notice ; 
letters were written to General Harniar, from various 
quarters, calling his attention to the subject, and praying 
that measures might be taken without delay to check 
the evil. They informed him that scarcely a boat 
passed the rock without being attacked, and in most in- 
stances captured ; and that unless something were done 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 27 

without delay, the navigation of the river would neces- 
sarily be abandoned." 

The Shawnees continued their warfare on the 
whites until Wayne's victory, in 1794, put an end to 
their activity ; during the early years of Massie's ex- 
ploration and surveying, they were an ever present 
menace to life. 

Before going further with this narrative, it will be 
necessary to give a brief account of the w r hole land sys- 
tem of the district. We have seen how Virginia re- 
served a large area to pay her revolutionary soldiers, 
who were entitled to tracts of land of various sizes ac- 
cording to their rank and periods of service. The mode 
of obtaining their share was as follows: "A certificate 
granted to a commissioned officer or his heirs by any 
general officer of the Virginia line or the commanding 
officer of the troops on the Virginia establishment, as 
the case might be, and a certificate issued to a non-com- 
missioned officer or soldier or his heirs by the colonel or 
commanding officer of the corps or regiment to which 
they respectively belonged, entitled them to the quantity 
of waste and unappropriated land engaged to them re- 
spectively by law. This certificate specified the time of 
service, or death of the party during service, that he had 
served the time required by law, and the regiment in 
which such party served. 

Upon proof being made before any court of record 
in the State of Virginia by the person's own oath, or 
other satisfactory evidence, of the authenticity of this 
certificate, and that the party had never proved his claim 
to the land therein mentioned, the clerk of the court was 
9 



28 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

required to indorse upon the original certificate this tes- 
timony, and to make an entry thereof on his order book. 
A list of all certificates granted was required to be sent 
to the register's office. 

Upon the application of any person, his heirs or as- 
signs, having title to waste and unappropriated lands, 
and upon his lodging the certificate in the land office, 
the register was required to grant to such person, " a 
printed warrant under his hand and the seal of his office, 
specifying the quantity of lands and the rights upon 
which it was due, authorizing any surveyor duly quali- 
fied according to law, to lay oft" and survey the same." 
These warrants were generally placed in the hands of a 
surveyor acquainted with the district whose business it 
was to select the land needed to satisfy them, to enter it 
at the land office by filing the warrant, together with 
such a description of the lands he proposed to survey, 
on the books kept for that purpose, that others could 
know what land had been located. This having been 
done, the surveyor proceeded to survey the entry by 
metes and bounds and returned a plat of his work to 
the office of the principal surveyor. " On the transmis- 
sion of this survey under the hand and seal of the prin- 
cipal surveyor, accompanied by the original warrant, or 
a copy, to the general land offiee, a patent was issued to 
the person apparently entitled to it." 

• Colonel Richard Clough Anderson, who was the 
principal surveyor of the Virginia military lands, opened 
his office at Louisville in 1784. Xo survey was legal 
unless made by him or one of his deputies. Every per- 
son concerned in making these surveys, even markers 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 29 

and chain carriers, were required to be duly appointed 
and sworn. Nathaniel Massie, who had much experi- 
ence as a surveyor in Kentucky, and who had spent 
some time as a clerk in Colonel Anderson's office, was 
in 1790 by him appointed a deputy surveyor. 

Massie's wide reputation as a surveyor, the fame of 
his exploring expeditions north of the Ohio, and his 
large acquaintance in Virginia, soon brought to him 
many holders of warrants eager to engage his services. 
The surveyors were paid by their clients either in cash 
or were given a share in the lands located by them, gen- 
erally from a quarter to a half. The most profitable 
plan was for them to buy the warrants and locate the 
lands for themselves. The warrants sold in Virginia all 
the way from twenty cents to one dollar per acre for 
each acre represented by them. Massie made many 
trips to Virginia for the purpose of buying warrants and 
for years had partners in the east, who purchased the 
warrants and sent them out for him to locate, the prin- 
cipal ones being Messrs. Pickett, Pollard and Johnson of 
Richmond. Massie must have been exceedingly in- 
dustrious and successful in his profession, as his books 
show that during the decade from 1791 to 1801, he sur- 
veyed 708 tracts containing over 750,000 acres, and is said 
to have been the largest land owner in the entire district. 
The mere surveying was only a small part of the labor 
involved in this business, which included purchasing 
warrants, selecting land, making the necessary entries at 
the land office, obtaining patents, selling the land when 
in his possession, and leasing and looking after what he 
retained or that which was placed under his care as 



30 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

agent for its owners in Kentucky and Virginia. The 
largest part of his correspondence concerns land trans- 
actions and of itself must have been considerable of a 
burden, but these dry statements of business detail are 
of little interest compared with the active work of the 
surveyor when afield, especially when exploring a new 
country and constantly in the presence of danger to life 
from savage foes and inhospitable surroundings. For an 
account of this part of Nathaniel Massie's life we are 
obliged to rely almost wholly on the accounts of his com- 
panion and friend, Colonel John McDonald, from whose 
interesting " Sketches" the remainder of this chapter is 
copied almost verbatim. 

"The first excursion made by General Massie into 
the interior of the district north-west of the Ohio was 
in the year 1788; but no account of the particulars of 
this expedition or his companions is now known. He 
was probably in company with Arthur Fox, who was at 
that time engaged in surveying lands in the district, and 
a particular friend and companion of Massie. . . . 

The locations of land warrants in this district prior 
to 1790 were made by stealth. Every creek which was 
explored, every line that was run, was at the risk of life 
from the savage Indians, whose courage and perseverance 
was only equaled by the perseverance of the whites to 
push forward their settlements. It was a contest for do- 
minion ; and the bravery, the stratagem, and the boldness 
displayed by the Indians in executing their plans could 
only be equaled by their fearless onsets in attacks and 
their masterly retreats when defeated. 

The Indians, at this time, had among them a mini- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 31 

ber of master spirits, and it is greatly to be regretted 
that the history of their exploits is lost forever. The 
patient resolution and fortitude with which they con- 
tended against superior discipline and numbers, the 
wiles and stratagems displayed by them during their 
long and bloody wars, proved that they possessed intel- 
lectual qualities of the first order. Their fortitude in 
enduring pain, fatigue, and starvation was unequaled, 
except by such of the whites as were long disciplined in 
the Indian school. 

Besides exposure to the Indians while surveying, 
the surveyors of the district had other difficulties to en- 
counter. By passing the Ohio, they placed that river 
between them and their place of retreat, in case they 
were defeated and pursued. The season of the year, 
too, chosen by them for surveying was the depth of win- 
ter, as they were then more secure from interruption ; as 
the Indians were at that time of the year in their winter 
quarters, and when hunting were found in small bodies. 
Against danger and exposure, the surveyors we're with- 
out shelter in the district. 

In the early part of the winter of 1791-1792, Massie 
was engaged in locating and surveying the lands on 
Brush creek, as far up as the three forks, intending, as 
soon as there was less danger from the Indians, to pro- 
ceed on a larger scale. It was in the spring of the same 
year that he was engaged in surveying the bottoms of 
the Little Miami. He had advanced up the river as far 
as the spot where the town of Xenia is now situated, 
without molestation. Early one morning the party 
started out to perform the labors of the day. Massie 



32 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

was walking in advance of the party, when an Indian 
was perceived by General William Lytle, with his gun 
pointed at Massie, and in the act of firing. Lytle, with 
uncommon quickness, fired, and killed the Indian. After 
this occurrence, they advanced cautiously, and soon 
found themselves near an encampment of about one 
hundred and fifty Indians. The party commenced a 
rapid retreat, and were closely pursued by the Indians. 
The retreat and pursuit continued without relaxation, 
until the party safely reached Manchester, or, as it was 
then called, Massie's station. 

During the winter of 1792-1793, Massie continued 
to locate and survey the best land within a reasonable 
distance of the station. As the Indians were always 
more quiet during the winter, he employed two men, Jo- 
seph Williams and one of the Wades, to accompany him 
to explore the valley of Paint creek, and part of the Scioto 
country. He found the bottoms rich beyond his expecta- 
tions, and made entries of all the good land on that 
creek. During that expedition, Kenton, Helm, and 
others, who had accompanied the various detachments 
from Kentucky which hud invaded the country, made a 
few entries, but a large bulk of rich land was still va- 
cant. . . . 

The plan adopted by Massie, in his various survey- 
ing excursions at that time, was such as to secure safety 
to the party. Three assistant surveyors, with himself 
making the fourth, were generally engaged at the same 
time in making surveys. To each surveyor was attached 
six men, making a mess of seven. Every man had his 
prescribed duty to perform. Their operations were con- 
ducted in this manner: In front went the hunter, who 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 33 

kept in advance of the surveyor two or three hundred 
yards, looking for game, and prepared to give notice 
should any danger from Indians threaten. Then fol- 
lowed, after the surveyor, the two chainmen, marker, 
and pack-horse men with the baggage, who always kept 
near each other, to be prepared for defense in case of 
an attack. Lastly, two or three hundred yards in the 
rear, came a man, called the spy, whose duty it was to 
keep on the back trail, and look out lest the party in 
advance might be pursued and attacked by surprise. 
Each man (the surveyor not excepted) carried his rifle, 
his blanket, and such other articles as he might stand in 
need of. On the pack-horse was carried the cooking- 
utensils, and such provisions as could conveniently be 
taken. Nothing like bread was thought of. Some salt 
was taken, to be used sparingly. For subsistence, they 
depended alone on the game which the woods afforded, 
procured by their unerring rifles. In this manner was 
the largest number of surveys made in the district. 
But to return. 

In the fall of the year 1793, Massie determined to 
attempt a surveying tour on the Scioto river. This, at 
that time, was a very dangerous undertaking; yet no 
danger, unless very imminent, could deter him from 
making the attempt. For that purpose, he employed 
about thirty men, of whom he chose three as assistant 
surveyors. These were John Beasley, Nathaniel Beas- 
ley and Peter Lee. It was in this expedition Massie 
employed, for the first time, a young man by the name 
of Duncan McArthur as a chainman or marker. This 
man had distinguished himself remarkably on several 



34 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

occasions, and particularly in Harmar's unfortunate expe- 
dition. He was one of the best woodsmen of his age. He 
was a large, strong, and muscular man, capable of endur- 
ing fatigue and privations, equal to the best trained In- 
dians. His courage was unquestioned, to which was added 
an energetic mind, which soon displayed its powers. He 
afterward became a surveyor, and was one of the most 
acute land speculators in the western country. Such a 
man Massie desired to have on an expedition of this 
character. 

In the month of October, some canoes were pro- 
cured, and- Massie and his party set off by water. They 
proceeded up the Ohio to the mouth of the Scioto, 
thence up the Scioto to the mouth of Paint creek. 
While meandering the Scioto, they made some surveys 
on the bottoms. After reaching the mouth of Paint 
creek, the surveyors went to work. Many surveys were 
made on the Scioto, as far up as Westfalf. Some were 
made on Main, and others on the North Fork of Paint 
creek, and the greatest parts of Ross and Pickaway 
counties in the district were well explored and partly 
surveyed. Massie finished his intended work without 
meeting with any disturbance from the Indians. But 
one Indian was seen during the excursion, and to him 
they gave a hard chase, lie, however, escaped. The 
party returned home delighted with the rich country of 
the Scioto valley, which they had explored. 

During the winter of 1793-1794, Massie, in the midst 
of the most appalling dangers, explored the different 
branches io their sources, which run into the Little 
Miami river, and thence passed in a north-eastern direc- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 35 

tion to the heads of Paint and Clear creeks, and the 
branches that form those streams. By these expeditions 
he had formed, from personal observation, a correct 
knowledge of the geographical situation of the country 
composing the Virginia Military District. 

During the winter of 1794-1795, Massie prepared a 
party to enter largely into the surveying business. Na- 
thaniel Beasley, John Beasley and Peter Lee were again 
employed as the assistant surveyors. The party set off 
from Manchester well equipped to prosecute their busi- 
ness, or, should occasion offer, give battle to the Indians. 
They took the route of Logan's trace, and proceeded to 
a place called the deserted camp, on Tod's fork of the 
Little Miami. At this point they commenced surveying, 
and surveyed large portions of land on Tod's fork, and 
up the Miami to the Chillicothe town (now in Clark 
county), thence up Massie's creek and C?esar's creek 
nearly to their heads. By the time the party had pro- 
gressed thus far, winter had set in. The ground was 
covered with a sheet of snow, from six to ten inches 
deep. During the tour, which continued upward of 
thirty days, the party had no bread. For the first two 
weeks, a pint of flour was distributed to each mess once 
a da}', to mix with the soup, in which the meat had been 
boiled. When night came, four fires were made for 
cooking, that is, one for each mess. Around these fires, 
till sleeping time arrived, the compan\ T spent their time 
in the most social glee, singing songs and telling stories. 
When danger was not apparent or immediate, they were 
as merry a set of men as ever assembled. Resting time 
arriving, Massie always gave the signal, and the whole 



36 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

party would then leave their comfortable fires, carrying 
with them their blankets, their fire-arms, and their little 
baggage, walking in perfect silence two or three hundred 
yards from their fires. They would then scrape away 
the snow, and huddle down together for the night. 
Each mess formed one bed; they would spread down on 
the ground one-half of the blankets, reserving the other 
half for covering. The covering blankets were fastened 
together by skewers to prevent them from slipping 
apart. Thus prepared, the whole party crouched down 
together with their rifles in their arms, and their pouches 
under their heads for pillows; laying spoon-fashion, 
with three heads one way and four the other, their feet 
extending to about the middle of their bodies. When 
one turned, the whole mess turned, or else the close 
range would be broken and the cold let in. In this way, 
they lay till broad daylight; no noise and scarce a whis- 
ner being uttered during the night. When it was per- 
perfectly light, Massie would call up two of the men in 
whom he had the most confidence, and send them to 
rcconnoiter, and make a circuit around the fires, lest an 
ambuscade might be formed by the Indians to destroy 
the party as they returned to the fires. This was an in- 
variable custom in every variety of weather. Self- 
preservation required this circumspection. If immor- 
tality is due to the names of heroes who have success- 
fully labored in the field of battle, no less honors are 
due t<> such men as Massie, who- ran equal risk of life 
from danger with less prospect of eclat, and produced 
more lasting benefit to the country. 

Massie proceeded to survey up Cresar's creek, nearly 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 37 

to where its waters interlock with the waters of Paint 
creek. Late one evening he came upon the tracks of 
Indians in the snow. Some of his men were dispatched 
to search out the Indian encampment, while others were 
sent in pursuit of the assistant surveyors, in order to 
collect the force into one body, that he might be pre- 
pared to attack or defend as circumstances might direct. 
A short time before sun down his force was collected. 
In a few minutes after the two men returned who had 
been sent to discover the Indian camp. They reported 
that they had proceeded as near the Indian encampment 
as they could with safety, and that it consisted of eight 
or ten tents, and that from the noise about the camp 
they had no doubt but that there was a large number of 
Indians. Massie, thereupon, concluded that it would be 
too hazardous to attack them while the snow was on the 
ground, believing it would endanger the whole party if 
they would be compelled to retreat, encumbered with 
any wounded. He therefore resolved to desist from 
surveying and make a rapid retreat to his own station, 
not doubting but that he would be pursued, as the In- 
dians would have no difficulty in tracking them through 
the snow. The line of march was formed for home by 
the party, who traveled until ten or eleven o'clock at 
night when they halted and remained until morning, 
when they again resumed their march, moving in a 
southern direction. About twelve o'clock they came to 
a fresh trail, which was made by four horses and eight 
or ten footmen. This trail was crossed diagonally, 
and was again struck upon after traveling a few miles. 
After a consultation with some of the most experienced 



38 The Life of Nathaniel Massi . 

of his men, Massie concluded the Indians, whose trail 
had been crossed, knew nothing of them, and deter- 
mined to pursue them so long as they kept the direction 
in which they appeared then to be going. The pursuit 
of the Indians was kept up as fast as the men could 
walk until dusk without overtaking them. The party 
then halted to consult as to their future operations. In 
a few minutes the Indians were heard at work with 
their tomahawks, cutting wood and tent poles, within a 
few hundred yards of the place where the party had 
halted. It was put to vote whether the Indian camp 
should be attacked immediately or whether they should 
postpone it till daylight. . A majority were for lying by 
and attacking them in daylight. Two or three men 
were then sent to reconnoiter their camp and bring away 
their horses. The horses were brought away, and 
preparations made to lie by for the night. Massie, who 
was more thoughtful than the rest of the company, be- 
gan to reflect on the critical situation of the party. He 
told them he did not approve of the idea of lying by 
until morning as there was no doubt they were rapidly 
pursued by the Indians from the head of Caesar's creek, 
and that by waiting until morning the pursuing Indians 
might come up in the course of the night and when 
daylight appeared they would find themselves between 
two fires. He said it was true the Indians might be de- 
stroyed more effectually in daylight, but that it was 
dangerous to loiter away their time on a retreat, and 
advised that whatever they did to the Indians should 
be done quiekly,and the march continued toward home. 
It was resolved to follow his advice. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 39 

It was about two hours in the night when this oc- 
curred. The day had been warm, and had melted the 
snow which was eight inches deep and quite soft on the 
top. At night it began to freeze rapidly, and by this 
time there was a hard crust on the top. In this situ- 
ation, the crust, when broken by a man walking on a 
calm night, could be heard at a distance of three hun- 
dred yards. Massie, under these circumstances, pre- 
pared to attack the Indians forthwith. The men were 
formed in a line, in single file, with their wiping sticks 
in their hands to steady them when walking. They 
then commenced moving toward the Indian camp in 
the following manner: The foremost would walk about 
twenty steps and halt; then the next in the line would 
move on, stepping in the tracks of the foremost to pre- 
vent any noise when breaking the crust of the snow. 
In this cautious and silent manner, they crept within 
about twenty-five yards of the Indian encampment, 
when an unexpected interruption presented itself; a 
deep ravine was found between Massie and the camp 
which was not perceived by the reconnoitering party. 
The Indians had not as yet laid down to rest, but were 
singing and amusing themselves round their fires in the 
utmost self-security, not dreaming of danger in their 
own country in the depth of winter. The bank of the 
ravine concealed Massie and his men, who were on low 
ground, from the light of the Indian fires. After halt- 
ing a few minutes on the bank of the ravine, Massie dis- 
covered, a few paces above him, a large log which had 
fallen across the ravine. On this log he determined to 
cross the gully. Seven or eight of the men, on their 



40 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

hands and knees, had crossed, and were within not more 
than twelve or fifteen paces of the Indians, crouching 
low, and turning to the right and left, when too many 
men at the same time got on the log; and as it was old 
and rotten, it broke with a loud crash. This startled the 
Indians. The whites, who had crossed over before the 
log broke, immediately fired into the Indian camp, 
shouting as they ran. The Indians fled, naked, and 
without their arms. Xo Indian was killed in the camp, 
although their clothing and blankets were found stained 
with blood. Xo attempt was made to pursue them. 
Their camp was plundered of the horses and arms, mak- 
ing altogether considerable booty. The party traveled 
that night and until noon the next day, when they halted 
to cook some provisions and rest their wearied limbs. 
After taking some refreshments, they loitered about the 
fires a short time and again commenced their march 
through snow and brash, and about midnight of the 
second day, arrived at Manchester after a fatiguing 
march of two days and nights from the head of Caesar's 
creek. 

On the last day of their march, about a mile north 
of where "West Union now stands, one of the men who 
carried a bag of Indian plunder, and rode one of the 
horses, dropped the bag and did not miss it until they 
arrived at Manchester. Some time in the succeeding 
day, two of the men took fresh horses and rode back on 
the trail to look for the bag. They found the bag some 
distance south of the brow of the hill, and concluded 
tiny would go to the brow and look over for deer. 
When they reached it, they were astonished to find the 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 41 

spot where a large party of Indians had followed the 
trail to the top of the hill, and there stopped to eat their 
breakfast, leaving some bones and sinewy jirk that was 
too hard to eat. Had the Indians pursued the trail one 
-hundred yards further, they would have found the bag 
and laid in ambush for the whites to return, and would 
doubtless have killed or taken the men who returned for 
the bag. This was truly a narrow escape. 

The winter of 1794-1795 was attended by no dis- 
turbance from the Indians, as the defeat they had sus- 
tained the summer before from General Wayne had 
completely checked them in their depredations. In the 
spring of 1795, Massie again prepared a party to return 
to the waters of the Little Miami, Paint creek, and the 
Scioto, for the purpose of surveying. He employed 
three assistant surveyors, with the usual complement of 
men. Every man carried, as usual in these surveying 
tours, his own baggage on his back. No one, indeed, 
was exempt from this service ; and when the weight is 
taken into consideration, and the incumbrance from it, 
there seems to be little ground for the complaints, which 
have latterly been made, about the inaccuracies of early 
surveys. Indeed, it is really astonishing how they could 
be made so accurate as they are found to be. 

Early in March the party set off from Manchester. 
The weather was fine, and the spring appeared to have 
commenced in earnest. Massie commenced surveying 
on the west fork of Ohio Brush creek. The woods then 
furnished game in great abundance, such as turkeys and 
bears, of the finest quality. A description of the 
method in which bears were taken, although familiar to 



42 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

the old backwoodsman, will be perhaps interesting to 
their descendants, as these animals have become scarce 
since the settlement of the country. It is well known 
that bears retire to the hollows of rocks or trees about 
the last of December, and remain in a dormant state un- 
til the winter breaks, be it early or late. When the 
weather becomes warm, they will bustle out of their 
holes to the nearest water, once in two or three days. 
In walking from their holes to the water, they are care- 
ful to step in the same track; and as the earth at that 
season of the year is soft and spongy, the feet of the 
bear, in passingand repassing, make a deep impression. 
These impressions are called by the old hunters " the 
bear's stepping place." When the hunter finds the 
stepping place, he can easily follow T the track, until he 
finds the tree, in the hollow of which, or in some cave 
or hole in the rocks, the animal lies at ease. They are 
then, by various means, driven from their holes and 
shot. During this expedition, a young man by the 
name of Bell, who was very active in climbing trees, 
exhibited great boldness in driving them from their 
holes. When a bear was tracked to a tree, this man, 
when the tree was not very large and smooth, would 
climb up and look into the hole, and punch the bear 
with a sharp stick until it would come out. Bears at 
this season are very lazy and difficult to move. By 
punching them, however, for some time, they will move 
heavily in their holes, and slowly drag themselves out. 
As soon as they were clear of their holes, some one or 
two picked marksmen would shoot them. Bell, so soon 
as lie would provoke the bears to come out, would slip 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 43 

out on a limb, and wait with perfect composure until the 
marksmen would shoot them. These feats are speci- 
mens of Bell's daring. He was, altogether, one of the 
most hard} 7 , fearless, and thoughtless men of danger I 
ever saw. In this way numerous bears were found and 
killed. The fat part of the meat, boiled or roasted with 
turkey or venison, makes a very luxurious repast. But 
to return. 

The weather for some time continued quite pleas- 
ant, while the party surveyed toward the head waters of 
Brush creek. They thence passed to the Rocky and 
Rattlesnake forks of Paint creek; thence crossing Main 
Paint, they passed up Buckskin, and across to " the old 
town," on the north fork of Paint creek. While sur- 
veying in this section of the country, the weather be- 
came cloudy, and commenced snowing and hailing. The 
snow continued to fall and drift for two days and nights ; 
and when it ceased, the ground was covered between two 
and three feet deep. The camp was on the ground, at 
this time the farm of Colonel Adam Mallow, four miles 
above Old Town (or Frankfort, as it is now called). 

About the time it ceased snowing, the weather be- 
came warm, and a soft rain fell for a short time. Sud- 
denly it became intensely cold, accompanied by a frost, 
which soon formed a strong crust on the snow, which 
had been previously softened by the rain. The snow, 
although somewhat settled by the rain, was at least two 
feet deep, with a crust that would bear about half the 
weight of a man. This was the deepest snow I ever saw, 
before or since, in the western country. The turkeys, and 
3 



44 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

other small game, could run on the crust of snow, which 
disabled the hunters from pursuing and killing game; 
and, as the party had no provisions with them, the dole- 
ful prospect of death by starvation stared them in the 
face. 

This tour was subsequently called the starving tour; 
and the remnant of those who are on this side of the grave 
yet remember with horror their situation at that time. 
The prudence exercised by them heretofore, of sleeping 
away from their fires, was not attended to. The party 
laid around their fires by day and night, anxiously pray- 
ing for a change in the weather. Some of the strongest 
and most spirited among the party several times made 
ineffectual attempts to kill game. Among these hunters, 
General Duncan McArthur, of Fruit Hill, near Chilli- 
cothe, and William Leedom, of Adams county, were 
conspicuous. On the third day of the storm they killed 
two turkeys. They were boiled and divided into twenty- 
eight shares or parts, and given equally to each man. 
This little food seemed only to sharpen their appetites. 
Not a particle of the turkeys was left. The heads, feet, 
and entrails were devoured, as if most savory food. 

The fourth morning of the continuance of the snow, 
Massie, with his party, turned their faces homeward. 
The strongest and most hardy of the men were placed 
in front, to break through the snow. This was a fatigu- 
ing and laborious business, and was performed alter- 
nately by the most spirited and strongest of the party. 
They thus proceeded in their heavy and disconsolate 
march the whole day, and at night reached the mouth 
of the Rattlesnake fork of Paint creek, a distance of 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 45 

about ten miles. In the course of that day, the sun 
shone through the clouds, for the first time since the 
storm commenced, and by its warmth softened the crust 
on the snow. This rendered the traveling less laborious. 
As the party descended the sloping ground toward the 
bank of Paint creek, they came across a flock of turkeys, 
and killed several. These were cooked and equally di- 
vided among the men. That night the party lay by 
their tires without guards or sentinels ; and, as the night 
was warm, the snow gradually melted. Early next 
morning, the most of the party turned out to hunt, and 
killed a number of turkeys ? some deer, and a bear. 
When these were brought to camp, a feast ensued, which 
was enjoyed with a zest and relish which none can prop- 
erly appreciate but those who have been so unfortunate 
as to be placed in a similar position. 

The writer of this narrative accompanied General 
Massie on this tour, and had previously passed through 
many trying and distressing scenes; but the hardships 
and privations of this tour were the most trying to the 
firmness, resolution, and fortitude of men he ever saw 
or experienced. Only reflect, reader, on the critical sit- 
uation of twenty-eight men, exposed to the horrors of 
a terrible snow-storm in the wilderness, without hut, 
tent, or covering, and, what was still more appalling, 
without provision, without any road or even a track to 
retreat on, and nearly one hundred miles from any 
friendly aid or place of shelter, exposed to the truly 
tremendous and pitiless peltings of a storm of four days 
continuance, and you can fancy to yourself some faint 
idea of the sufferings of this party. 



46 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Although more than forty years have passed, I can 
scarcely think of our sufferings, even at this length of 
time, without shuddering. The people of the present 
time, who now inhabit our western country, and are 
sheltered from tempestuous storms in comfortable and 
elegant mansions, and are blessed with peace and plenty, 
can scarcely appreciate the sufferings and privations of 
those who led the way in settling our western country. 
Under all the hardships of this tour, Massie always 
showed a cheerful face, and encouraged his men to hope 
for better times. Nothing like despondency ever clouded 
his brow, nor did his good humor forsake him during 
the gloom and despair of this trying occasion. 

The storm being passed, fine weather and plenty 
ensued, and the party again went cheerfully to work. 
Massie surveyed all the hind he at first designed, and re- 
turned to Manchester without any adventure worthy of 
relation. . . ." 

So much space has been devoted to this subject to 
show the hardships and dangers which our pioneers en- 
countered. Massie was not a man like Boone or Kenton, 
who hunted and fought for the sake of the excitement, 
but was seeking to clear the path for civilization, and his 
object was always to develop and improve the land he 
had determined to possess. 



The Life of Nathaniel 3/ossic. 47 



CHAPTER III. 

The Founding of Manchester and Chillicothe. 

A base of supplies on the Ohio river, which was 
one of the pathways from the east to the west and also 
the frontier of such civilization as Kentucky then pos- 
sessed, was absolutely essential to the safety and exist- 
ence of Massie and his surveying parties while north of 
that river. To supply this want, Massie, in 1790, deter- 
mined to establish a station in the Virginia Military 
District, and selected for this purpose the bottom along 
the Ohio river opposite the lower of the three islands, 
some twelve miles above the present town of Maysville, 
Kentucky, then called Limestone. 

In order to secure settlers for his station, Massie 
advertised his project in Kentucky, " and offered each 
of the first twenty-five families, as a donation, one in- 
lot, one out-lot, and one hundred acres of land, provided 
they would settle in a town lie intended to lay off at his 
settlement." His terms were soon accepted by nineteen 
men. The American Pioneer gives the following con- 
tract, which was drawn up and executed by Massie on 
the one part, and his followers on the other : 

CONTRACT. 

"Articles of agreement between Nathaniel Massie, 
of one part, and the several persons that have hereunto 



48 The Life of Nathaniel Massii . 

subscribed, of the other part, witnesseth : That the sub- 
scribers hereof doth oblige themselves to settle in the 
town laid off, on the north-west side of the Ohio, oppo- 
site to the lower part of the Two Islands ; and make 
said town, or the neighborhood, on the north-west side 
of the Ohio, their permanent seat of residence for two 
years from the date hereof; no subscriber shall absent 
himself more than two months at a time, and during 
such absence furnish a strong, able-bodied man, suffi- 
cient to bear arms at least equal to himself; no subscriber 
shall absent himself the time above mentioned in case of 
actual danger, nor shall such absence be but once a year; 
no subscriber shall absent himself in case of actual dan- 
ger, or if absent, shall return immediately. Each of the 
subscribers doth oblige themselves to comply with the 
rules and regulations that shall be agreed on by a ma- 
jority thereof for the support of the settlement. 

In consideration whereof, Nathaniel Massie doth 
bind and oblige himself, his heirs, etc., to make over 
and convey to such of the subscribers that comply with 
the above conditions, at the expiration of two years, a 
good and sufficient title unto one in-lot in said town, 
containing rive poles in front and eleven back, one out- 
lot of four acres convenient to said town, in the bottom, 
which the said Massie is to put them in immediate pos- 
session, also one hundred acres of land, which the said 
Massie has shown to a part of the subscribers; the con- 
veyance to be made to each of the subscribers, their 
heirs or assigns. 

In witness whereof, each of the parties have here- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 49 

unto set their hands and seals, this 1st day of Decem- 
ber, 1790. 

JSTathaniel Massie, John Ellison, 

John Lindsey, Ellen Simmeral, 

William Wade, John -f- M'Cutchen, 

John Block, Andrew + Anderson, 

Samuel + Smith, Matthew + Hart, 
Jesse + Wethington, Henry + JSTelson, 

Josiah Wade, John Peter C. Shanks, 

John Clark, James Allison, 

Robert Ellison, Thomas Stout, 

Zephaniah Wade, George -f- Wade. 

Done in presence of 

John Beasly, 
James Tittle." 

Early in 1791, the station was located, and by the 
middle of March it was " inclosed with strong pickets 
firmly fixed in the ground, with block-houses at each 
angle for defense." 

The town was laid out into lots, and the name 
changed from " Massie's Station " to Manchester. This 
was the first settlement in the Virginia Military District 
and the fourth in Ohio ; Marietta, Cincinnati, and Galli- 
polis being older. It is universally admitted to have 
been the most exposed of all to danger from the In- 
dians, and at all times relied wholly on itself for safety, 
no fort nor regular troops, as in the case of the older 
towns, watching over it. The two following incidents 
related by McDonald show how ever present the danger 
from the Indians was : 



50 The Life of Nathan 'id Massie. 

" Early in the spring of the year 1792, Massie pro- 
ceeded to make some surveys on a small creek, which 
empties into the Ohio, four miles above Manchester, ac- 
companied by Israel Donalson and two others. They 
meandered up the river to the mouth of the creek and sat 
down on a log, not far from the bank of the river, to eat 
some junk. As they were eating and amusing themselves 
with chit-chat, they were not a little startled to see 
seven or eight Indians walk up the bank of the river 
without their arms, having left them in their canoe at 
the mouth of the creek. Massie and his party lied. 
The Indians, yelling horridly, pursued them. When the 
surveying party reached the foot of the hill they had a 
deep ravine to cross, about ten or twelve feet wide and 
as many in depth. Massie and two others of his com- 
panions leaped the ravine ; but poor Donalson, being 
less active in making the leap, plunged into the ditch. 
Massie and the two others soon ran to Manchester and 
gave an account of their misfortune. He was ignorant 
whether or no Donalson was killed. Early next morn- 
ing he collected twenty men and went to the ravine and 
found that Donalson must have been taken. The trail 
of the Indians was pursued for some distance when it 
was concluded that if the pursuit was continued, and 
the Indians were aware of it, they would immediately 
kill Donalson ; but that if they were permitted to go off 
unmolested they would, in all probability, save his life. 
The pursuing party immediately returned to Manchester, 
permitting the Indians to pursue their course. 

Some time passed before the fate of Donalson was 
known at the station, and that was made known by his 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 51 

own sudden appearance. From his account of the affair, 
it appears the Indians had been trapping up Big Sandy 
River and were on their return to Wapatomaka town 
(now Zanesfield), on Mad river. That the Indians had 
passed from the mouth of Big Sandy down the Ohio until 
they reached the mouth of the creek, where they landed 
with their canoes and had given pursuit to the party. The 
foremost Indian, pursuing them closely, saw Donalson 
make his unfortunate plunge, and before he could re- 
cover leaped upon him tomahawk in hand. Donalson 
instant!}' surrendered and was made a prisoner. It was 
late in the evening when they took him, and they im- 
mediately loaded him with their peltry and made a rapid 
march homeward. In a few days they reached the 
Chillicothe town, on the Little Miami. At this 
time he began to think about effecting his escape, 
although the difficulties against which he had to con- 
tend were great, owing to the extreme caution and 
watchfulness of the Indians. At night they confined 
him in the following manner. They took a strong tug 
(a rope made of the raw hide of the buffalo or elk) and 
fastened it around his body, each end of the tug being 
tied around the body of an Indian. The tug was tied 
so tightly that it could not be slipped, nor could he 
move to the one side or the other without drawing the 
Indian after him. It was from such a situation he had 
to extricate himself. One night, while the Indians were 
tying him'after the usual manner, he puffed up his body 
to its full extent by drawing in his breath ; and when 
they had completed the process he found that there was 
a good deal of play in the noose of the tug. He laid 



52 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

very still until the Indians were fast asleep. Then, 
having partly undressed himself, he began slowly and 
cautiously to slip from the noose. After a long trial he 
succeeded in slipping himself out, and found himself 
once more a free man. He instantly rushed to the 
thickets. The night was clear, and he could steer his 
course by the stars. Striking off in a southern direc- 
tion he traveled all night, The next day he fell on 
Harmar's old trace, and followed its course to the south. 
In two days he reached Fort Washington, now Cincin- 
nati. Here he remained a few days to recruit himself, 
and then returned to his friends at Manchester, where he 
was most joyfully received, as there had been with 
them great anxiety as to his fate. The creek, at the 
mouth of which he was taken, was called after him 
"Donalsoirs Creek;'* which name it still retains, and 
will retain when the event which gave birth to its name 
will be forgotten. Mr. Donalson is still living, the 
patriarch of Manchester, and is, I believe, the only one 
of the first settlers who lives there at this time. He 
held many public offices. He was a member of the con- 
vention which formed the constitution for the State of 
Ohio, and uniformly preserved the character of an honest 
and useful man. . 

In the spring of the year 1703, the settlers at Man- 
chester commenced clearing the out-lots of the town;. 
and while so engaged, an incident of much interest and 
excitement occurred. Mr. Andrew Ellison, one of the 
settlers, cleared a lot immediately adjoining the fort. 
He had completed the cutting of the timber, rolled the 
logs together, and set them on fire. The next morning, 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 53 

a short time before daybreak, Mr. Ellison opened one of 
the gates of the fort, and went out to throw his logs to- 
gether. By the time he had finished this job, a number 
of the heaps blazed up brightly, and as he was passing 
from one to the other, he observed, by the light of the 
fires, three men walking briskly towards him. This did 
not alarm him in the least, although, he said, they were 
dark-skinned fellows ; yet he concluded they were the 
Wades, whose complexions were very dark, going early 
to hunt. He continued to right his log-heaps, until one 
of the fellows seized him by the arms and called out in 
broken English, " How do ! how do ! " He instantly 
looked in their faces, and to his surprise and horror 
found himself in the clutches of three Indians. To re- 
sist was useless. He therefore submitted to his fate 
without any resistance or an attempt to escape. 

The Indians quickly moved off with him in the di- 
rection of Paint creek. When breakfast was ready, 
Mrs. Ellison sent one of her children to ask their father 
home; but he could not be found at the log-heaps. His 
absence created no immediate alarm, as it was thought 
he might have started to hunt after the completion of 
his work. Dinner time arrived, and Ellison not return- 
ing, the family became uneasy, and began to suspect 
some accident had happened to him. His gun-rack was 
examined, and there hung his rifle and his pouch in 
their usual place. Massie raised a party, and made a 
circuit around the place, and found, after some search, 
the trails of four men, one of whom had on shoes; and 
as Ellison had shoes on, the truth, that the Indians had 
made him a prisoner, was unfolded. As it was almost 



54 The Life of Natkaniel Massie. 

night at the time the trail was discovered, the party re- 
turned to the station. Next morning, early preparations 
were made by Massie and his party to pursue the In- 
dians. In doing this they found great difficulty, as it 
wasso early in the spring that the vegetation was not of 
sufficient growth to show plainly the trail of the Indians, 
who took the precaution to keep on hard and high land, 
where their feet could make little or no impression. 
Massie and his party, however, were as unerring as a 
• pack of well-trained hounds, and followed the trail to 
Paint creek, when they found the Indians gained so fast 
on them that pursuit was vain. They therefore aban- 
doned it, and returned to the station. 

The Indians took their prisoner to Upper Sandusky, 
and compelled him to run the gauntlet. As Ellison was 
a large man and not very active, he received a severe 
flogging as he passed along the line. From this place 
he was taken to Lower Sandusky, and was again com- 
pelled to run the gauntlet, and was then taken to 
Detroit, where he was generously ransomed by a British 
officer for one hundred dollars. He was shortly after- 
ward sent by his friend, the officer, to Montreal, from 
whence he returned home before the close of the sum- 
mer of the same year. 

Another incident connected with the station at 
Manchester occurred shortly after this time, which, 
although somewhat out of order as to time. I will take 
the liberty to relate in this place. 

John Edgington, Asahel Edgington, and another 
man started out on a hunting expedition toward Brush 
creek. They camped out six miles in a north-east direc- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 55 

tion, from where West Union now stands, and near where 
Treber's tavern is now situated, on the road from Chilli- 
cothe to Maysville. The Edgingtons had good success in 
hunting, having killed a number of deer and bears. Of 
the deer killed, they saved the skins and hams alone. The 
bears they fleeced ; that is, the}" cut oft' all the meat 
which adhered to the hide without skinning, and left 
the bones as a skeleton. They hung up the proceeds of 
their hunt on a scaft'old, out of the reach of the wolves and 
other wild animals, and returned home for pack-horses. 
Xo one returned to camp with the two Edgingtons. As 
it was late in December, no one apprehended danger, as 
the winter season was usually a time of repose from In- 
dian incursions. When the Edgingtons arrived at their 
old hunting camp, they alighted from their horses, and 
were preparing to strike a fire, when a platoon of In- 
dians fired upon them at a distance of not more than 
twenty paces. Asahel Edgington fell to rise no more. 
John was more fortunate. The sharp crack of the rifles 
and the horrid yells of the Indians, as they leaped from 
their place of ambush, frightened the horses, who took 
the track toward home at full speed. John Edgington 
was very active on foot, and now an occasion occurred 
which required his utmost speed. The moment the In- 
cians leaped from their hiding-place, they threw down 
their guns and took after him. They pursued him, 
screaming and yelling in the most horrid manner. 
Edgington did not run a booty race. For about a mile 
the Indians stepped in his tracks almost before the 
bending grass could rise. The uplifted tomahawk was 
frequently so near his head that he thought he felt its 



56 The Life of Nathan id Massie. 

edge. Every effort was made to save his life, and every 
effort of the Indians was made to arrest him in his 
flight. Edgington, who had the greatest stake in the 
race, at length began to gain upon his pursuers, and, 
after a long race, he distanced them, made his escape, 
and safely reached home. This, truly, was a most fear- 
ful and well contested race. The big Shawnee chief, 
Captain John, who headed the Indians on this occasion, 
after peace was made and Chillicothe settled, frequently 
told the writer of this sketch of the race. Captain 
John said that " the white man who ran away was a 
smart fellow, that the white man run and I run, he run and 
run, at last, the white man run clear off from me. . . ." 

McDonald gives the following picture of life at the 
station : 

"As soon as Massie had completely prepared his sta- 
tion for defense, the whole population went to work and 
cleared the lower of the Three Islands, and planted it in 
corn. The island was very rich, and produced heavy 
crops. The woods, with a very little industry, supplied 
a choice variety of game. Deer, elk, buffalo, bears, and 
turkeys were abundant, while the river furnished a 
variety of excellent fish. The wants of the inhabitants, 
under these circumstances, were few and easily gratified. 
Luxuries were entirely unknown, except old Mononga- 
hela double distilled. This article was in great demand 
in those days, and when obtained freely used. Coffee 
and tea were rare articles, not much prized or sought 
after, and were only used to celebrate the birth of a 
new comer. The inhabitants of the station were sen- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 57 

erally as playful as kittens, and as happy in their way 
as their hearts could wish. 

The men spent most of their time in hunting and 
fishing, and almost every evening the boys and girls 
footed merrily to the tune of the fiddle. Thus was their 
time spent in that happy state of indolence and ease, 
which none but the hunter or herdsman state can enjoy. 
They had no civil officers to settle their disputes, nor 
priests to direct their morals ; yet amongst them crimes 
were of rare occurrence. Should any one who chanced 
to be amongst them prove troublesome, or disturb the 
harmony of the community, his expulsion forthwith 
would be the consequence ; and woe be to him if he 
again attempted to intrude himself upon them. . . ." 

The chief point of interest concerning this settle- 
ment lies in the fact that its founders were all sturdy 
Anglo-Saxons seeking their fortunes in a hostile wilder- 
ness and relying wholly on themselves for every thing. 
They were not a company, organized and equipped in 
the east with capital and education behind them, with 
rules and religion provided for their use, but were mostl} T 
simple backwoodsmen with only their rifles and axes, 
brain and brawn, to sustain them. They were by in- 
stinct and association perfect Democrats, believing 
wholly in themselves and their right to rule themselves 
as seemed best to them. 

During the three years following the settlement of 
Manchester, Massie made many surveys along the Scioto 
river and Paint creek, and became the owner of much 
rich land in that region. Wayne's victory at Fallen 
Timbers, in 1794, and treaty at Greenville, in 1795, had 



58 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

about put an end to danger from the Indians, and many 
persons in Kentucky and Virginia were anxious to emi- 
grate to that much praised part of Ohio. These people 
were actuated by various motives, the restlessness of the 
race and a desire to better their fortunes influenced 
many ; others desired to get away from the uncertainty 
of the Kentucky land titles, and a few were anxious to 
separate themselves from slave-holding communities. 

Among those who cast longing eyes to the north 
were Rev. Robert W. Finley, a Presbyterian minister of 
Bourbon county, Kentucky, who, according to his auto- 
biography, in 1794, addressed the following letter to 
General Massie : 

"Bourbon County, Ky., December 12, 1794. 
Sir: — After compliments to you, I take the liberty 
of addressing you for information. I understand you 
have a large quantity of land on the Scioto and Paint 
creek for sale. I would be pleased to know its qualities, 
and what advantages two large societies could have. A 
number have thought of purchasing fifteen or twenty 
miles square for the settlement of two congregations, and 
have been informed that you could supply us. Sir, I 
request the favor of you, by Mr. Rogers, the bearer, to 
furnish me with the situation, quality, and the quantity 
you could sell, and what would be your price per hundred 
acres, and what your terms of payment, by taking such 
a quantity of land as would be sufficient to settle two 
congregations, or say three hundred families. But it is 
probable the present circumstances of the country would 
require some time to make a settlement in it with pru- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 59 

denee. You will please let me know at what time this 
winter it would meet your convenience to go with us 
and show us these lands. A number of us would love 
to see the advantages which the country will afford for 
such a settlement. Your compliance will much oblige 
your humble servant, 

" Robt. W. Finley. 
" Mr. Nathaniel Massie, Esq." 

This letter, doubtless, encouraged Massie to put into 
execution a long cherished project, the founding of a 
town on the Scioto river near the mouth of Paint creek. 
Accordingly, he gave notice in Kentucky of his inten- 
tion, and as usual offered liberal terms to those who were 
willing to follow him. In this instance, an in-lot and 
an out-lot of four acres in the proposed town to the 
first one hundred settlers, provided they would become 
permanent residents in the towm or its vicinity. This 
proposition brought together at Manchester, early in 
1795, a party of respectable citizens of Kentucky, in- 
cluding the Rev. Mr. Finley. General Massie started 
with these people to the Scioto Valley, and the follow- 
ing account of their adventures is taken from Finley's 
" Life Among the Indians :" 

" When the day appointed for the rendezvous at 
Massie's Station arrived, there were assembled, includ- 
ing those from my father's two congregations and from 
Pennsylvania, about sixty individuals, all burning with 
ardent desire to see, with their own eyes, the country 
of whose fertility they had heard so much, and which 
4 



60 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

seemed to them the land of promise. The party felt 
more secure from the attacks of the Indians because 
General Wayne was, at that very time, in treaty with 
them at Greenville; and, therefore, they pushed boldly 
forward into the interior. They were divided into three 
companies, one led by Massie, one by Finley, and the 
third by Fallenach, an old pioneer among the Indians. 
In a few days they reached Paint creek, near the falls. 
Here they encamped for the night. 

In the morning, they found thev were in the vicin- 
ity of a body of Indians, and proceeding down the creek, 
.soon came within hearing of their horse-bells. It was 
now too late to draw back, and an action with the In- 
dians was inevitable. Some of the company were what 
was called raw hands ; that is, unaccustomed to border 
life and adventure. Full of enthusiasm, they had often 
expressed a desire ' to smell Indian powder.' One of 
the party, who had fought during the Revolutionary 
war, and also with the Indians, retorted upon these 
vaunting fellows : - If you get the smell you will run, or 
I am very much mistaken.' Their vaunted courage was 
now brought to the test. 

Leaving Captain Pattee with a rear guard, the three 
divisions under Massie, Finley, and Fallenach, made a 
simultaneous attack upon the Indian camp. They 
proved to be a party of Shawnees and Senecas who 
(had refused to enter into treaty. Charley Wilke was 
their leader, and they were eucamped on the bank of 
the creek, at what is called Reeves' crossing. They 
were taken completely by surprise. Two of them were 
killed, and several wounded ; and the rest took to 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 61 

flight. But after escaping across the creek, they rallied 
in the woods for a short time, and returned the salute 
of the whites. One man, Joshua Robinson, from Penn- 
sylvania, was shot dead. As the old Revolutionary 
veteran had predicted, some of the raw hands, who had 
boasted so much, fled at the first 'smell of Indian pow- 
der,' and hid behind the logs in the rear. Captain 
Pattee reported them, while in this condition, as ' hav- 
ing the shakes," from the trembling of their bodies. 

The company, having buried their dead compan- 
ions, hastily gathered the horses, the skins, equipage, 
and other plunder of the Indian camp, and started for 
the station at Three Islands. That night they reached 
Scioto Brush creek, and there encamped upon an ad- 
vantageous spot. Suspecting the Indians would be on 
the pursuit, their sentinels were carefully posted for the 
night. Just before day-break one of the sentinels per- 
ceived something gradually working toward him on the 
ground. Calling out, he received no answer, and in- 
stantly leveled his piece, probably wounding or killing 
the Indian. The battle now commenced. The Indians 
met with a noble resistance from a part of the men, 
while the others displayed their cowardice by hiding 
from the bullets of the enemy in a deep sink-hole in the 
earth. The action lasted about an hour, when the In- 
dians retreated, with the loss of two killed, and several 
wounded. On the part of the whites, several horses 
were killed, and one man, a Mr. Gilfillan, was wounded 
in the thigh. After this, the party made good their re- 
turn to the station, without further molestation. This 
ended the exploration of the Scioto Valley, for that 



62 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

year; and it was also the last battle fought with the 
Indians during the old Indian war." 

Nothing daunted by this failure, Massie decided to 
make another attempt the next year, and, accordingl}', 
early in 1796, he assembled his followers in Manchester 
and divided them into two parties ; leading one by land 
and sending the other in pirogues up the Ohio and 
Scioto to the mouth of Paint creek. Here the parties 
met and encamped at a spot known as the Station 
Prairie. The party which came by water brought the 
tools needed in building and farming, and with these, 
on April 1, 1796, they began to build cabins and plow 
the open prairie, so as to plant corn, three hundred 
acres being soon turned by thirty plows. McDonald 
says : " That season was attended by great prosperity to 
the settlers. Although they suffered, at one time, 
greatly fo'* the want of some of the necessaries of life, yet 
in this they were soon relieved by the luxuriant crops of 
their plantations." 

Meanwhile, Massie selected as the site for his town 
the level ground between the Scioto and Paint creek 
and along the foot of the hills which divide those streams. 
No better, nor more beautiful spot, can anywhere be 
found ; the land itself is very fertile, alluvial soil un- 
derdrained by a bed of sand and gravel ; the river and 
creek afford splendid water and excellent drainage, 
while the surrounding hills give a beauty and variety 
to the landscape which is unrivaled. 

Massie proceeded to lay out his town on a liberal 
scale. The streets all run cither parallel or at right angles 
with each other and are from sixty-six to ninety-nine 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 63 

feet wide. The in-lots have a frontage of ninety-nine 
feet and a depth of one hundred and ninety-eight feet 
to an alley — the out-lots adjoined the town and con- 
tained about four acres each, being almost square. The 
original plan has two hundred and eighty-seven in-lots 
and one hundred and eighty-nine out-lots. The town 
having been laid out, and the streets, alleys, and lots 
having been marked by blazing the trees, the proprietor, 
on consultation with his friends, gave the settlement the 
name of Chillicothe, which is the Indian word meaning 
a town. 

Then the first hundred pioneers proceeded to 
draw the in-lots and out-lots to which they were en- 
titled by their contract with Massie. This drawing 
seems to have taken place in July, 1796, Massie giving 
his written obligation to each to make them deeds. 
Some lots were also sold at ten dollars apiece, so the 
town must soon have had oyer a hundred inhabitants. 
We are told that "it increased vapidly, and before the 
winter of 1796 had several stores, taverns, and shops for 
mechanics." This was made possible by the great in- 
rush of white settlers which followed the termination 
of the Indian wars. Chillicothe having been settled by 
Virginians and Kentuckians naturally attracted most of 
the emigrants from those states. These were of various 
kinds, from the ordinary backwoodsmen to college grad- 
uates, but all intent in their own way on improving 
their fortunes. Many of them brought letters of intro- 
duction to Massie, asking his favor in general, and 
usually his assistance in buying land, or advice, as to 
choice of locations or business ventures. Massie must 



64 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

have been glad to receive these, for his whole policy was 
to build up his community, and with this end in view, 
he sold his lands at exceedingly low prices and in any 
quantity from a few acres up, taking as pay either cash 
or promises. He adopted the same course as to all 
business ventures, which might be of benefit to the 
community, lending them his name and credit. Among 
others whom he helped in this way were Duncan McAr- 
thur, Thomas Worthington, and Michael Baldwin. 

The rapid growth of Chillicothe soon made it one 
of the principal towns of the North- West Territory. 
Its people being mostly of Virginia and Kentucky origin, 
naturally had the tendencies of those states and soon de- 
veloped them to a remarkable degree, which we shall try 
to trace in the next chapter. Before beginning it, how- 
ever, it will be well to finish with Nathaniel Massie as a 
founder of towns. Besides Manchester and Chilli- 
cothe, he laid out Bainbridge in 1805 and several smaller 
places, some fourteen in all. His }'ounger brother, 
Henry Massie, founded Portsmouth in 1803 — a record 
probably unsurpassed by any family in the North- West 
Territory. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 65 



CHAPTER IV. 

The Government of the North-West Territory — First and Second 
Territorial Legislatures — Conflict between St. Clair and Massie — 
The Beginnings of Politics in Ohio — The Triumph of Democ- 
racy — Statehood in Sight. 

The government provided for the jSTorth-West Ter- 
ritory in the Ordinance of 1787 was that same year com- 
mitted b} T Congress to Arthur St. Clair, as Governor, 
three Judges and a Secretary, at the same time, being 
associated with him. St. Clair was President of Con- 
gress at the time of the adoption of the ordinance; had 
served as a Major-General during the revolution and 
was a warm personal friend of General Washington. 
The first eight years of his administration were mostly 
taken up with the continuous Indian wars, which ha- 
rassed the country on both sides of the Ohio. General 
St. Clair's chief distinction during this period was his 
crushing defeat by the Indians under Little Turtle on 
JSTov. 4, 1791, when he lost about half his army and all 
its equipments. General Wayne's victory in 1794, 
called the battle of the "Fallen Timbers," and his treaty 
at Greenville in 1795, finally ended the Indian wars in 
Ohio. As soon as the people of the older states became 
convinced that peace actually existed in the North- West 
Territory, immigration set in on a large scale, so that a 
census taken in 1798 showed that there were five thou- 
sand free white male inhabitants within its limits. Ac- 
cording to the terms of the ordinance, this entitled the 



66 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Territory to elect a Legislature of its own, and Governor 
St. Clair made proclamation to that effect and issued 
writs for an election. All historians agree that the peo- 
ple of Ohio selected their ablest leaders to represent 
them in this first Territorial Legislature, " men thor- 
oughly awake to their wants and conditions." 

Adams county elected Nathaniel Massie as one of 
her two representatives, Joseph Darlington being his 
colleague. Ross county, in which Chillicothe is situated, 
sent Thomas Worthington, Elias Langham, Samuel Fin- 
ley and Edward Tiffin. Of these, Worthington and 
Tiffin were destined to play important parts in the early 
history of Ohio. Tiffin was born in England in 1766; 
emigrated to Virginia while a youth ; studied medicine 
and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 
1789. 

Worthington, who was a few years younger than 
Tiffin, was a native of Virginia ; a man of education 
and means, and an old friend of Nathaniel Massie. 

Tiffin and Worthington, who were brothers-in-law, 
about 1796, emancipated their slaves and removed from 
their Virginia homes to Massie's town on the Scioto, 
Chillicothe. 

They were valuable acquisitions, for they possessed 
character and ability of the highest order, and were men 
of reputation and influence in the east. 

This first Legislature met at Cincinnati, Sept. 23, 
17'.' ( .>. The Governor delivered an address of welcome 
and advice, laying especial stress upon the necessity of 
providing an adequate revenue and a reliable militia. 

Massie was made a member of the Committee of 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 67 

Ways and Means, of the " committee to bring in a bill 
for levying taxes and regulating revenue;" chairman of 
the committee to draught and prepare a militia law and 
served on several minor committees. Most of the laws 
enacted were such as are needed in every new state and 
are of no especial interest. The business was conducted 
harmoniously, and without regard to any political di- 
visions. At the close of the session, however, Governor 
St. Clair rudely disturbed this primitive simplicity by 
the vigorous use of his veto. 

In 1798, a controversy had taken place between St. 
Clair and Massie concerning the power of the Governor 
to fix the seats of justice in the new counties which he 
erected. The Ordinance of 1787 authorized the Governor 
to lay out parts of the districts into counties, but said 
nothing concerning the location of county seats. When 
Adams county was created, Massie naturally wanted his 
town of Manchester to be the county town ; St. Clair 
decided on Adamsville. Massie, and the other magis- 
trates of Adams county, insisted on holding court where 
they pleased and were taken to task by Governor St. 
Clair for their behavior. When the Legislature con- 
vened, a bill was passed fixing Manchester as the seat 
of justice in Adams county. Bills were also passed di- 
viding and creating other counties. The Governor held 
these bills until the end of the session, and then vetoed 
them all, giving various reasons, but probably stating 
the true one when he said : "It appears to me that the 
erecting of new counties is the proper business of the 
executive." This action, naturally, caused a great deal 
of feeling, especially, among those who were largely in- 



68 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

terested in lands; Nathaniel Massie being the chief op- 
ponent of the claim advanced by the Governor. These 
bills were probably of small consequence in themselves, 
but contained the beginnings of politics in Ohio, for be- 
neath this little controversy lay a great question — should 
the people decide for themselves what was best for them, 
or should a Governor, deriving his authority from 
without the territory ? Should the government be pop- 
ular or paternal ? Aristocratic or Democratic ? 

Governor St. Clair, who was by training and asso- 
ciation a strong Federalist, believed the people but ill 
qualified to decide political questions for themselves, be- 
lieved that a wise and good man, provided like himself 
by some far away superior power, was much better fitted 
to be intrusted with all such matters. Nathaniel Massie 
and his self-reliant followers were sure that they knew 
their own best interests and did not propose to be gov- 
erned by any one except themselves ; nor did they have 
much respect for the distant federal government which, 
heretofore, had furnished them scant protection from 
their enemies, and still suffered the English along the 
Great Lakes and Spaniards in Louisiana to menace their 
political and commercial freedom. They, doubtless, 
were in full sympathy with their kindred in Virginia 
and Kentucky concerning the alien and sedition laws; 
they were Republicans and followers of Jefferson; they 
did not admire nor approve of President Adams and his 
administration. The first outbreak of party spirit is 
generally supposed to have occurred at the close of the 
first session of this Territorial Legislature, when five 
members of the House — Messrs. Bond, Goforth, Lang- 



The Life of Nat hay, id Massie. 69 

ham, Ludlow and Meigs — refused to vote for a laudatory 
address to the President of the United States, but this 
action was probably more personal than political in its 
nature. The two parties thus created, at once, began 
hostilities. That St. Clair's plan was to keep the Terri- 
tory in a state of tutelage as long as possible, is abun- 
dantly proved by a letter which he wrote his friend, 
James Ross, a federalist Senator from Pennsylvania, just 
after the close of this session of the Legislature— this 
letter, which can be found in the St. Clair Papers, shows 
so clearly Governor St. Clair's position, that it is best to 
give the portions of it bearing on the question : 

''December (no date), 1799. 
Dear Sir: — Our assembly, at length, is up, and the 
session has been a very harmonious one, notwithstand- 
ing that I was obliged to put a negative upon a good 
many of their acts. Their last act was a very handsome 
address to the President, from which there were only 
four dissentients. I have inclosed a paper, which con- 
tains what I said to them when they were prorogued. 
. . . X have conversed with you on the subject of di- 
viding this Territory into districts and erecting two gov- 
ernments in it. You seemed to think it would be a 
proper measure, and that nothing made against it but 
the additional expense it would occasion. To me that 
has always appeared a small consideration, when com- 
pared with the inconveniences that would probably fol- 
low from its soon becoming a State; and, if it is not di- 
vided, it must become a State very soon. It is even 
thought by some that the requisite number of inhabit- 



70 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

ants are now within it, and measures have been taken 
by the Legislature to ascertain it. But no time shall be 
lost, when it does come about, by directing an annual 
enumeration. 

A multitude of indigent and ignorant people are 
but ill qualified to form a constitution and government 
for themselves; but that is not the greatest evil to be 
feared from it. They are too far removed from the seat 
of government to be much impressed with the power of 
the United States. Their connection with any of them 
is very slender — many of them having left nothing but 
creditors behind them, whom they would very willingly 
forget entirely. Fixed political principles they have 
none, and though at present they seem attached to the 
General Government, it is in fact but a passing senti- 
ment, easily changed or even removed, and certainly not 
strong enough to be counted upon as a principle of 
action ; and there are a good many who hold sentiments 
in direct opposition to its principles, and who, though 
quiet at present, would then take the lead. Their gov- 
ernment would most probably be democratic in its form 
and oligarchic in its execution, and more troublesome 
and more opposed to the measures of the United States 
than even Kentucky. All this, I think, may be pre- 
vented by the division of the Territory. Time would 
be afforded for the cultivation of a disposition favorable % 
to the General Government, as the inhabitants would 
meet with nothing but friendship and protection from 
the United States, and the influence of the few wealthy 
would cease entirely, or scarce be felt, and gratitude and 
attachment would become fixed habits of the mind. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 71 

But it is not every division that would answer those 
purposes, but such a one as would probably keep them 
in the colonial state for a good many years to come. 
In a letter which I wrote to the Secretary of State by 
the last post on this subject I mentioned the proper 
boundaries to them, but on further reflection I think it 
would not answer ; that it would divide the present in- 
habitants in such a manner as to make the upper or 
eastern division surely Federal, and form a counterpoise 
from opposing local interests in the western division to 
those who are unfriendly to the General Government, 
I think is certain ; but the eastern division is too thinly 
inhabited, and the design would be too evident. A line 
drawn due north from the mouth of Eagle creek, where 
it empties itself into the Ohio, would answer better. 
There would then be the counties of Adams, of Ross, 
of Washington, of Jefferson and Trumbull in the eastern 
division, and all of them must hereafter be subdivided 
and other counties made out of them ; and the western 
division would contain the counties of Hamilton, Wayne, 
Knox, St. Clair and Randolph, and each of them would 
have a sufficient number of inhabitants to continue in 
the present stage of government — that is, to make laws 
for themselves by their representatives; whereas, were 
the territory divided by the great Miami, the western 
division must return to the tirst stage. The expense, 
which you seemed to think would be the principal obstruc- 
tion, would be but trifling, for, undoubtedly, an increase 
of judges there must be if any regard is had to the 
people. It is utterly impossible that three judges can 
do the business, but were they sufficiently numerous for 



72 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

the country as it now is they might serve for the whole 
of it when divided into two districts. The whole ad- 
ditional expense then that the division would occasion 
would be the salary of one Governor. 

The division of the Territory, I am persuaded, will 
be pressed, and I believe it to be a part of Colonel 
Worthington's business in Philadelphia ; and the great 
Miami, or a line drawn from the mouth of it, will be set 
forth in the strongest manner as the proper line. The 
people of Ross are very desirous it should take place. 
Their views are natural and innocent enough. They 
look no further than giving consequence to Chillicothe. 
But I am very much mistaken if their leaders have not 
other and more extensive views. They think the divi- 
sion in that way would but little retard their becoming 
a State, and as almost all of them are democrats, what- 
ever they pretend to the contrary, they expect that both 
the power and the influence would come into their 
hands, and that they would be able to model it as they 
please; and it is my fixed belief it would be in a man- 
ner as unfriendly to the United States as possible. 
This, however, is in contidence, and I particularly re- 
quest that my sentiments may not be confided to Mr. 
Worthington, who, I have discovered, not to be entirely 
that candid man I once represented him to you, and who 
I now think a very designing one." 

St. Clair's proposition to divide the Territory into 
two parts, bounding the eastern division on the west by 
Eagle creek, thus making a sure federalist territory and 
keeping both the proposed divisions "in the colonial 
state for a good many years to come," was also broached 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 73 

by him to the Secretary of State, Timothy Pickering, 
who showed the letter to William Henry Harrison, the 
representative of the IsTorth-West Territory in Congress. 
This, of course, disclosed the whole scheme and put the 
opponents of the Governor on their guard, although 
reference to the letter from Thomas Worthington to 
General Massie, written December 27th, 1799, shows 
that the Republicans were thoroughly disgusted with 
St. Clair, and were determined to obtain a government 
of their own. Mr. King, in his " History of Ohio," 
doubts whether Worthington had this as the object of 
his visit to Philadelphia, but this letter seems to make 
it clear that he had faith enough in his cause to ask 
justice even of his political enemies. 

The chief opponents of St. Clair's plan were Massie, 
Worthington, Tiffin and the Virginia element, who, nat- 
urally, had with them the representative of the Terri- 
tory in Congress, William Henry Harrison, who was 
also a Virginian. Their hope was to so divide the Ter- 
ritory that their party could control its affairs and bring 
it to statehood as soon as possible. Of course, to have 
Chillicothe made its capital was an incidental benefit 
that they expected to accrue. 

In May, 1800, Congress passed an act due largely to 
Mr. Harrison's efforts, dividing the Territory into two 
parts by the Greenville treaty line, from the Ohio up to 
Fort Recovery, and thence directly north through Michi- 
gan. The eastern division continued to be called the 
North-West Territory, and Chillicothe was made its 
capital ; the western was named Indiana Territory, and 
Vincennes was made its capital. St. Clair remained as 



74 The Life of Nathan id Massie. 

Governor of the former ; Harrison became Governor of 
the latter. This division was the one feared by St. Clair 
and advocated by Worthington. It was a great victory 
for Massie and his friends. His town in four years had 
become the capital of the Territory, and statehood was 
in sight. 

St. Clair and his followers were vociferously angry 
and by no means discouraged, as the sequel shows. 

The first General Assembly met for its adjourned 
session at Chillicothe on Xovember 5, 1800. Governor 
St. Clair delivered an address mainly on the affairs of 
the Territory, but closing with some very bitter words 
concerning his opponents. The Council and House re- 
turned civil answers. 

Among the first acts of the assembly was the adop- 
tion of the following offered by Massie : 

"Whereas, It is the opinion of this House that the 
Ordinance for the government of this Territory has 
vested the right of laying out and erecting new counties 
in the legislature thereof; and, whereas, his Excellency, 
the Governor, has differed in opinion from the House 
on that subject ; therefore, 

Resolved, That a committee be appointed on the 
part of this House, jointly with such committee as may 
be appointed on the part of the legislative council, to 
prepare an address to his Excellency on that subject, ex- 
pressive of their regret on the difference of their opin- 
ion, and that the said committee be directed to point 
out in said address that part of the Ordinance which 
gives said power to the legislature." 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 75 

A committee was appointed of Messrs. Massie, 
Goforth and Worthington. 

This committee soon prepared the address, advanc- 
ing arguments in behalf of the right of the Legislature 
to lay out and erect two counties, and closing by civilly 
asking the Governor to return bills of which he disap- 
proved within ten days after receiving them. St. Clair 
replied in an argument of considerable length on the 
county question, maintaining his former position, says 
his friend Judge Burnet, " by reasons more plausible 
than solid ; some of which were by no means compli- 
mentary to the judgment or intelligence of the As- 
sembly." 

(" So far as pride of opinion was involved, the As- 
sembly afterward had the satisfaction of knowing that 
their construction of the Ordinance in regard to the 
power in question, was sanctioned by Congress, without 
any effort on their part to produce that result.") 

Concerning the request that bills be returned within 
ten days he said, " that it is altogether out of my power 
to comply with it." 

Here both sides had rested their case, when the Gov- 
ernor, on December 2d, notified the Assembly that on 
the 9th of that month the session must close, as his 
term expired that day, and the law in that case did not 
authorize the secretary to take his place. No doubt, the 
opponents of the Governor hoped that the Secretary, 
Charles William Byrd, would become acting Governor, 
for he was heartily in sympathy with them, being a 
Virginian and also a brother-in-law of General Massie. 
5 



76 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

The Governor's enemies, however, must have had much 
to console them for their temporary disappointment — 
this action of St. Clair's being another illustration of 
the proverb, " That those whom the Gods would de- 
stroy they first make mad." Governor St. Clair did 
not act with frankness in this matter, nor with a due 
regard to the public interests. Judge Burnet, one of 
the ablest and best members of the legislative council, 
and a warm friend of St. Clair's, says, concerning this 
,in Ins well-known " Notes on the Early Settlement of 
the North-Western Territory :" 

" It was somewhat remarkable that the opinion of 
the Governor, and his purpose to adjourn the Legis- 
lature, were concealed in his own bosom, till it was too 
late to confer with the Secretary of the Territory ; who 
was then absent from the seat of Government. As it 
was known, that his own opinion of his own powers, coin- 
cided with that of the Legislature, it was not doubted, 
that, if such a conference could have been had, he 
would have taken the responsibility of giving notice, at 
once, that he would issue his proclamation, bearing date 
on the day, next after the expiration of the Governor's 
term of office, re-assembling the two Houses, forthwith, 
for the dispatch of business, before the members should 
separate, and return to their respective homes. By that 
measure the sitting of the Assembly would have been 
continued, till the public business then pending was dis- 
posed of. 

It was the prevailing opinion, that the Governor 
ought to have given notice of his view, of the powers 
of the Secretary, and of his intention to prorogue the 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 77 

Legislature, in his address at the opening of the session. 
It was strongly insinuated, that he withheld the informa- 
tion, for the express purpose, of preventing the inter- 
ference of the Secretary, till it would be too late to ac- 
complish the object. Many of his best friends were 
apprehensive, that such a motive, might have an im- 
proper influence on his mind.'' 

St. Clair was soon afterwards reappointed Governor 
of the .North-West Territory by President Adams and 
his nomination confirmed by the Senate, not, however, 
without opposition, which would have been more vigor- 
ous had the Republican Senators not feared "that should 
he be rejected, some person more obnoxious might be 
appointed, and that it would only be exchanging an old 
and feeble tyrant for one more active and wicked." 

Both sides began at once to prepare for continuing 
the battle ; the Republicans by agitating for statehood ; 
the Federalists by scheming for another division of the 
Territory. This time the Scioto was to be the western 
boundary of the eastern division. 

The representatives elected in October, 1801, as 
members of the second Territorial Legislature, were in- 
clined to be favorable to Governor St. Clair; those from 
Ross and Adams counties, including Massie, Tiffin and 
Worth ington, were, of course, in opposition. 

Thomas Jefferson had been inaugurated, as Presi- 
dent, a few days after the Senate had confirmed St. Clair 
as Governor, and a Republican Congress began its term 
at the same time. Under these circumstances, it would 
seem that the merest political tyro would have known 
enough to, at least, let the Republican minority rest in 



78 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

peace, if not try to conciliate them ; but Governor St. 
Clair and bis followers still seemed bent on self-destruc- 
tion, for when the Legislature met Xovember 24, 1801, 
they renewed the battle by having their majority pass- 
bills declaring the assent of the Territory to a change in 
the boundaries of the states to be formed under the Or- 
dinance of 1787, and moving the capital from Chillicothe 
to Cincinnati. Governor St. Clair approved both these 
bills, which were aimed as death-blows at Massie, his 
town of Chillicothe and his fellow Virginians. General 
Massie and Ins. followers voted, against these measures- 
and entered a vigorous protest on the journal against 
them. Ontside the Assembly, passion ran high ; a mob 
attacked the quarters of the Governor, and some of the 
members who supported him. This is said to have been 
led by Michael Baldwin, a brilliant and wild young 
lawyer of Chillicothe, a protege of Massie and a bitter 
enemy of St. Clair. General Massie and his companions 
in the minority were justly indignant at this violence 
and were active in suppressing it. The Republican 
leaders organized at once in self-defense and sent 
Worthington and Baldwin to Washington to op- 
pose the approval of the act changing the bound- 
aries of the territory, which Paul Fearing of Ma- 
rietta, the delegate in Congress, was endeavoring to 
secure. The mission of the two Chillicotheans was 
successful; the House of Representatives refusing by a 
vote of 81 to 5 to approve the act of the Territorial 
Legislature. " Dr. Cutler," says King, " singularly was 
one of the five for marring the ordinance."' But the 
Republicans were not satisfied with this negative victory,. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massii . 79 

they were determined to have something further — St. 
Clair's removal from office and admission to the union. 
Massie prepared charges against Governor St. Clair, 
which were laid before the President by Thomas Wor- 
thington in February, 1802. They were : 

"1. He has usurped legislative powers, by the erec- 
tion of courts and location of the seats of justice b} T 
proclamation, on his own sole authority. 

2. He has misused the power of negativing legislat- 
ive acts by putting his negative on laws useful and nec- 
essary for the Territory. 

3. He has refused to perform the duties of his office 
but on the payment of arbitrary fees not established by 
any lawful authority. 

4. He has negatived acts of the Legislature abolish- 
ish those fees, and passed their act giving him $500, 
meant as a compensation for that abolition, thereby 
holding both the fees and compensation. 

5. He has attempted to effect the dismemberment of 
the Territory, and to destroy its constitutional bounda- 
ries, in order to prevent its advancement to those rights 
of self-government to which its numbers would enti- 
tle it. 

6. He has granted commissions generally during 
pleasure; but that of Attorney-General to his own son 
during good behavior. 

7. He has endeavored arbitrarily to influence and 
control the proceedings of the judiciary, and has re- 
voked or effected a surrender of the commissions of 
those who have refused to bend to his will. 

8. He has appointed persons residing out of a 



80 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

county to offices the duties of which were to be habitu- 
ally performed within them. 

0. lie has (neglected and thereby) obstructed the 
organization and disciplining of a militia for the defense 
of the Territory by withholding the appointment of 
officers eighteen months after a law had passed estab- 
lishing them. 

10. He has avowed his hostility to the form and 
substance of republican government (and contempt of 
militia regulations). " 

The President took no action on these charges, 
probably, because he knew that Governor St. Clair 
would soon be disposed of in another way; for the chief 
object of the Republicans of the North-West Territory 
was statehood, and in this they had the active assistance 
of the leaders of their party in Congress. 

The letters written home by Worthington show- 
that he soon found there would be but little trouble in 
preventing the proposed division of the Territory, and 
that Congress was more than willing to grant them state- 
hood. Jefferson had recently been elected President 
with great difficulty and by a very narrow margin, and 
his followers were naturally anxious to secure additional 
political strength, besides it was according to Democratic 
doctrine to magnify the states and minimize the federal 
power. Petitions for statehood were hurried to. Wash- 
ington as well as protests. Judge Burnet, the ablest 
supporter of St. Clair, states the arguments both pro and 
con so fairly that his statement deserves to be quoted at 
length. He says : " On the one side it was alleged that 
the existing government was anti-republican; that the 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 81 

inhabitants did not enjoy the political rights which be- 
longed to freemen ; that neither the Governor, the 
Judges of the General Court, nor the Legislative Coun- 
cil, were, in any form, amenable to the people ; that the 
power of appointing to office, held by Congress, was 
dangerous ; that it had been abused ; that the Governor 
controlled the will of the Representatives of the people ; 
and that there was no remedy for these evils, but a 
radical change of government." 

" On the other hand, it was contended that notwith- 
standing those allegations were technically true, yet 
they produced but little, if any, injury in practice, that 
they were the unavoidable result of the plan adopted for 
the settlement of the Territory, which was originally ad- 
mitted to be wise, judicious and safe ; that the objections 
to the form of government were theoretical defects, 
rather than practical evils ; that the exercise of the ap- 
pointing power, as far as it was held by Congress, was 
fully compensated for by the payment of the salaries of 
all the officers whom they appointed ; that the in- 
habitants of the district were too few and too poor to 
bear the expense of a State government ; that their 
numbers were rapidly increasing ; that in two years, at 
most, the district would have a population which would 
entitle it, as a matter of right, to become a State, with- 
out conditions or restrictions, and that it was better to 
endure the inconveniences complained of till the time 
should arrive when the proposed change would be a 
matter of right, and the people better prepared to meet 
the expenses of the change.'' 

Worthington did his work so well that Congress, 



82 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

on April 30, 1802, passed an act authorizing a conven- 
tion of delegates to be elected by the people of the Ter- 
ritory in the following September for the purpose of de- 
ciding, first, whether it was expedient to form a state 
government. If so decided by a majority of the dele- 
gates, they were authorized to proceed to adopt a con- 
stitution. 

The campaign over the election of delegates was 
spirited and resulted in an overwhelming Republican 
victory ; even their opponents admit that creditable 
selections were made, " the most intelligent men in the 
counties " being chosen. 

Nathaniel Massie was one of the delegates elected 
by Ross county. The delegates met in Chillicothe on 
November 1, 1802, and organized by electing Edward 
Tiflin, of Ross county, President of the Convention. 

As soon as the Convention had adopted rules and 
selected minor officers, a motion was made that "Arthur 
St. Clair, Sen., Esq., be permitted to address the conven- 
tion on those points which he deems of importance." 
Nineteen members voted yea, fourteen nay. Massie 
was one of those voting yea. This shows that he was 
either fair-minded enough to give his arch-enemy a 
chance to state his case or shrewd enough to know that 
St. Clair would do himself more harm than good. 
This, Governor St. Clair did, for his address was unwise 
in the extreme, going so far as to state that the act (au- 
thorizing the convention) was " an interference with the 
internal affairs of the country, which Congress had 
neither the power nor right to make : the act is not 
binding on the people, and is in truth a nullity." 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 83 

The Governor's address had no effect on the Con- 
vention, for, as soon as he had finished delivering it, a 
resolution was introduced and adopted, " That it is the 
opinion of this Convention, that it is expedient, at this 
time, to form a constitution and state government." 
Thirty-two delegates, including Massie, voted for .this 
resolution ; only one, Mr. Cutler, of Marietta, against it. 
This was the dawn of statehood for Ohio. 

As soon as Governor St. Clair's address was laid 
before President Jeff'ersoiij he caused the following let- 
ter, published in " The St. Clair Papers," to be sent to 
Governor St. Clair: 

" Department of State, 

Washington, November 22, 1802. 

Arthur St. Clair, Esq.: 

Sir: — The President observing, in an address lately 

delivered by you to the convention held at Chillicothe, 

an intemperance and indecorum of language toward the 

Legislature of the United States, and a disorganizing 

spirit and tendency of very evil example, and grossly 

violating the rules of conduct, enjoined by your public 

station, determines that your commission of Governor 

of the North-Western Territory shall cease on receipt of 

this notification. 

I am, etc., 

James Madison." 

This ended General St. Clair's connection with the 
North-West Territory, Charles Willing Byrd, the Sec- 
retary, acting as Governor until the election of state 
officers. 



84 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Almost a hundred years have passed since the con- 
flict between Arthur St. Clair and Nathaniel Massie 
ended, and it is possible to form a clear and impartial 
judgment on its merits. Both men had their strong and 
weak points ; both, probably, had the usual human mo- 
tives for much that they did ; they were representatives 
of opposing political forces, and as such are of interest 
to history. St. Clair stood for the federalist element; 
was the advocate of a strong central power and a pa- 
ternal government; had great faith in the few; none at 
all in the many. 

Massie was the representative of the rising Democ- 
racy ; believed in the people and was anxious to intrust 
them with their own affairs. 

Time has shone that Nathaniel Massie was right. 

Ohio was ready for statehood, and through the 
brains and brawn of her people has become one of the 
greatest of American Commonwealths. To have di- 
minished her territory or hampered her citizens at the 
beginning would have been a fatal error. The victorious 
termination of this contest is the greatest glory of Na- 
thaniel Massie's life. He believed in the people; he be- 
lieved in the destiny of Ohio ; he stroved for these and 
won. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 85 



CHAPTER V. 

The Constitutional Convention— Ohio a State— Legislative Serv- 
ices — Contest with Meigs — The Militia. 

The same day that Governor St. Clair addressed the 
Convention and it resolved that a state government was 
expedient, it began the work of framing a constitution. 
The method adopted was to appoint a committee and 
assign to it a certain subject. This committee would 
generalh T , on the day following its creation, report an 
article of the proposed constitution covering the subject 
allotted to them. The Convention would then go into 
a committee of the whole Convention and discuss and 
amend the proposed article, keeping this up from day to 
day, until they were ready to adopt it. 

There were eight subjects thus assigned to as many 
committees. First, the preamble and legislative power; 
second, the supreme executive authority; third, the ju- 
diciary; fourth, the qualifications of electors ; fifth, the 
militia ; sixth, concerning certain county townships and 
minor state officers; seventh, certain miscellaneous ques- 
tions such as oaths of officers, bribery of electors, new 
counties, location of state capital, amendments to the 
constitution and boundaries of the state; eighth, a bill 
of rights and schedule for carrying into complete opera- 
tion the constitution and government. 

Nathaniel Massie was a member of the committees 
having in charge the articles concerning the Legislature, 



86 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

the supreme executive authority, the judiciary and the 
militia; the first three being by far the most important 
committees appointed. He also served on several com- 
mittees concerned with transacting the affairs of the 
Convention and was, in every way, one of its most prom- 
inent members and is said to have exerted great influ- 
ence in its deliberations. While there was considerable 
discussion over each of the articles proposed, the points 
raised were of little importance then, and of no interest 
now, excepting two. One of these was on the question 
of submitting the constitution prepared by the Conven- 
tion to the people " for their acceptance and confirma- 
tion," which was decided in the negative by a vote of 
twenty-seven to seven, the yeas coming from the four 
Washington county representatives, Messrs. Wells and 
ITpdegraff, of Jefferson county, and Mr. Riley, of Cin- 
cinnati. 

It would have been a useless waste of time and 
money to have had the people vote on the constitution ; 
they had strongW shown that they favored immediate 
statehood and had indorsed the political ideas, of the 
men most prominent in advocating it, by electing them 
members of the Convention; they afterward approved 
this action by elevating these same men to office under 
the state government. 

The most interesting contest was on the question of 
negro suffrage. At one time, fourteen members voted 
to abolish all race distinctions in the qualifications of 
electors — the same day, by a vote of nineteen to fifteen, 
the Convention adopted a proviso, "That all male ne- 
groes and mulattoes, now residing in this territory, shall 



The Life, of Nathaniel Massie. 87 

be entitled to the right of suffrage, if they shall within 
six months, make a record of their citizenship." By a 
vote of seventeen to sixteen, the Convention refused to 
extend this proviso to the descendants of such negroes 
and mulattoes as shall be recorded. 

There must have been some vigorous work done 
about this time, for, when the article of the constitution 
containing this proviso came up for final adoption, the 
proviso, above quoted, was stricken out by the casting 
vote of Edward Tiffin, the President of the Convention, 
the vote standing seventeen to seventeen without him. 
This is of interest as showing the feeling, at that time, 
toward the colored race. 

This Convention was controlled by men from the 
slave-holding states of Virginia and Kentucky, yet we find 
them badly divided on this question. One of their own 
leaders, Charles Willing Byrd, a Virginian of the Vir- 
ginians, standing steadily for the right of the negro to 
vote. On the other hand, Messrs. Huntington, of Trum- 
bull county, and Mclntire, of Washington county, scions 
of New England stock, were with Massie and Worthing- 
ton against negro suffrage. 

In this connection, it may be said, that in examin- 
ing Nathaniel Massie's correspondence, containing sev- 
eral hundred letters written by Virginians and Ken- 
tuckians concerning their lands in the North-West 
Territory, only two were found objecting to the pro- 
visions of the Ordinance of 1787 on the subject of 
slavery, and these were both written by one man. 

After each section had been adopted separately, 
the constitution was ratified by the Convention and 



88 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

signed by the members. This instrument has been the 
subject of much adverse criticism by legal writers and 
historians, mainly on the ground that it gave all power 
and dominion to the Legislature, made the executive a 
mere figure-head and created a short lived elective 
judiciary. These critics lose sight of the circumstances 
under which it was made and of what it means as an 
historical land-mark. The readers will recall the dis- 
agreement between Governor St. Clair and Nathaniel 
Massie over the question of creating new counties and 
locating county seats ; how this little conflict grew to be 
a bitter contest between two opposing political systems ; 
between popular and paternal government; between the 
Federalists and Republicans, and how, at last, the latter 
triumphed, securing statehood and the Governor's re- 
moval. 

The Constitutional Convention was the first fruits of 
the Republican victory. It was their Convention. The 
men who had sided with Massie and his fellow Chilli- 
cotheans controlled it completely. Edward Tiffin was 
ks President, and a careful study of its committees and 
proceedings will disclose what an iron grip they had 
upon it, and how fully they directed its actions. 

For years these men had been contending for the 
right of the people to govern themselves through their 
representatives, and had been fighting the paternal policy 
of their Governor. It was but natural, when the op- 
portunity came, for them to try to secure perpetually 
these principles and to embody them in their constitu- 
tion. The Governor was made a mere figure head, 
given no control whatever over the Legislature, by the 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 89 

right of vetoing its acts or otherwise; he was not even 
required to sign its laws before they went into effect 
(provisions still in force) ; was shorn of all patronage 
and allowed to name no officers, except an adjutant gen- 
eral. The Legislature made all the appointments of 
state officers, including the judiciary; its powers were 
bounded only by the constitution itself, which protects 
the people by a long and liberal bill of rights and pro- 
vides an easy way of amending its provisions. This 
constitution was the full and complete triumph of 
Democracy, and is the crowning glory of those who 
brought it about ; for the history of the Anglo-Saxon 
race in its broadest sense is a record of the struggles of 
the people to assert themselves against their rulers. 
The great trophies in this contest are the Magna Charter 
and the Bill of Rights of 1689, won by our ancestors in 
the old home across the sea, and the Declaration of In- 
dependence, made good by our revolutionary forefathers 
in America. Each of these marks a long step forward 
toward a " government of the people, by the people and for 
the people," but none go quite so far as to claim for the 
people absolute power, freed from all control by king or 
president or governor. The first to reach that goal were 
the founders of Ohio, led by the Chillicothe statesmen, 
who had been trained in their backwoods' struggles with 
savage men and rugged nature to rely on themselves 
alone, and to allow no man to dictate what was best for 
them and theirs. 

It must not be for one moment understood that 
these men were a body of primitive anarchists. The 
leaders, Massie, Tiffin, Byrd and Worthington, were 



90 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

men of education in its broadest sense, men of large 
affairs and men of the world. They were not as one 
brilliant writer says " men of very unattractive faults," 
but were born and bred as gentlemen of as good old 
stock as any in America. Their lives had brought them 
much in contact with the men of their race, they be- 
lieved thoroughly in them and in their ability to hold 
their own with any body, anywhere. All they asked 
was to be allowed to spend their lives and seek their 
own happiness as they pleased, to live under just such a 
government as to them seemed best — a true democracy — 
where there should be no classes, no property qualifica- 
tions, no religious tests and no requisite for citizenship, 
save manhood. Under what other conditions could 
self-respecting and self-reliant men be happy ? 

The adoption of the constitution made the people of 
Ohio a body politic, but did not provide them with a 
government nor admit them to the union. Worthing- 
ton was sent to -Washington to submit the constitution 
to Congress for its approval, which was formally given 
by an act passed March 3, 1803. The schedule attached 
to the constitution provided that the election of state 
officers and members of the Legislature should be held 
January 11, 1803, and that the General Assembly should 
meet at Chillicothe, March 1, 1803. The Chillicothe 
party had things all their own way at this election. 
Edward Tiffin was chosen Governor. Massie, Worthing- 
ton and Baldwin were elected members of the General 
Assembly, which organized by electing Nathaniel Massie 
President of the Senate, and Michael Baldwin, Speaker 
of the House of Representatives. Thomas Worthington 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 91 

was made one of the two United States Senators, his 
colleague being John Smith of Hamilton county, who 
had both in the Territorial Legislatures and Constitu- 
tional Convention, acted with the Republicans. Jere- 
miah Morrow, also of Hamilton county, was elected the 
representative in Congress. Morrow, like Smith, had 
taken the Republican side in the Territorial Legislature 
and Constitutional Convention, and was now just enter- 
ing on a long and brilliant public career, being a mem- 
ber of Congress for sixteen years and twice Governor of 
Ohio. Charles Willing Byrd was soon appointed United 
States District Judge by President Jefferson, ornament- 
ing that position until his death in 1828. William 
Creighton, Jr., a young man from Virginia, brother-in- 
law of Massie and Byrd, was elected the first Secretary 
of State of Ohio, thus beginning a long and useful pub- 
lic life. 

This marked success must have been very gratifying 
to the early Republicans of Chillicothe whose previous 
conduct was thus given the stamp of popular approval, 
which they and their able successors held for many years. 

This first General Assembly was, necessarily, much 
occupied in enacting such laws as were demanded by the 
circumstances of a young state. The duties of the new 
ofiicials were prescribed, and their salaries fixed and at 
very modest figures, the Governor and Judges of the 
Supreme Court received nine hundred dollars each, and 
the others less, some as little as four hundred dollars. 
The courts were organized, and the practice of the law 
regulated, laws were passed concerning marriage, taxa- 
6 



92 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

tion, elections, corporations, the transfer of real estate 
and many similar subjects; these laws seem all to have 
been formed with wisdom and tempered with justice, 
Nathaniel Massie taking a leading part in their creation — 
the same may be said concerning the second Senate of 
Ohio, in which Massie, again, represented Ross county. 

In 1806, Nathaniel Massie was elected a member of 
the House of Representatives of the fifth General As- 
sembly ; here, again, he seems to have been prominent; 
but the subjects before the law-makers were less primi- 
tive — public improvements had become a burning ques- 
tion ; in one place, we find the statesmen providing for 
public roads, in another, appointing. " a committee to 
bring in a bill granting a lottery to improve the banks 
of the Scioto opposite Chillicothe." In a secret session, 
Governor Tiffin called their attention to Burr's conspir- 
acy ; Massie was made chairman of the committee to 
whom was referred the message and promptly reported 
" a bill to prevent certain acts hostile to the peace and 
tranquillity of the United States*' — the rules were sus- 
pended, and the bill, at once, became a law ; under its 
provisions, Blennerhasset was forced to flee from Ohio, 
forever. 

Massie closed his legislative career by serving as a 
member of the House in the eighth General Assembly. 
Its journal shows him to have been an active and useful 
member during its uneventful session. 

The most striking feature of these early assemblies 
is the quality of their members. Such men as Worthing- 
ton and Tiffin, after having been United States Senators 
and Governors, seeking seats in their State Legislature 



The Life of Nathan!,/ Massi* . 03 

and giving freely the benefit of their experience and wis- 
dom, while many younger men, like Duncan McArthur 
and Lewis Cass, whose abilities carried them into the 
highest places in the land, are found upon their rolls. 

Nathaniel Massie was one of the three presidential 
electors selected in Ohio in 1804, and had the satisfaction 
of casting his vote for his political chief, Thomas Jeffer- 
son ; in 1808, lie was again chosen an elector and voted 
for James Madison. 

The part of Nathaniel Massie's political life, which 
is now most frequently recalled, although of no especial 
significance, is his contest with Return Jonathan Meigs 
over the governorship. Massie, who had been urged to 
offer himself as a candidate for this position on the ad- 
mission of the state into the union, had declined for the 
reasons stated in his letter to Thomas Worthington, 
dated February 8, 1802, and printed in this volume. In 
1807, yielding to the importunities of his friends, he 
consented that his name might be used in that con- 
nection and became a candidate. His opponent was 
Return Jonathan Meigs, of Marietta, who was originally 
a Federalist and supporter of St. Clair, but- came over to 
the Republican side in the contest over statehood and 
had been a constant office holder ever since. There was 
no difference in the politics of the two men, but the 
politicians, probably, preferred Meigs as being the more 
ambitious, and, therefore, to them the more useful man. 
Many of Massie's friends, in view of his financial 
troubles, doubted the wisdom of his turning aside from 
his own affairs, and were, perhaps, half hearted in their 
support. At all events, Meigs received 5,550 votes to 



1)4 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

4,739 for Massie. Meigs 1 vote came largely from those 
counties in northern and eastern Ohio, which had been 
settled by New England people, of whom he was one. 
Northern Ohio had no part in nor knowledge of the St. 
Clair controversy and statehood contest, and so Massie 
was an entire stranger in that region. Where Nathaniel 
Massie had lived and labored, among his own people, his 
vote must have been most gratifying to him. Ross 
county, his home, gave him 1,032 votes to 02 for Meigs ; 
Highland, 279 for Massie, 3 for Meigs ; Adams, 441 for 
Massie, 114 for Meigs; Franklin, 332 for Massie, 30 for 
Meigs. The General Assembly canvassed the vote for 
Governor, and referred the returns to a committee, who, 
after examination, reported that "there appears to have 
been votes cast for Return J. Meigs, Junior, Return J. 
Meigs, and Return Jonathan Meigs, and are of the opin- 
ion, from reading the 13th section of the law to regu- 
late elections, that the) 7 are intelligibly and in fact given 
to Return Jonathan Meigs. Trumbull and Geauga 
counties are rejected because the returns of said counties 
are blended together, and returned under the seal of 
Trumbull county; and the return of Greene county for 
the same reason, it being jointly returned with Cham- 
paign county; and also of Athens county, it being re- 
turned by the clerk of Washington county ; also the re- 
turns from Champaign, Ross, Belmont, Highland and 
Washington, counties, because it does not appear that 
the abstracts had been made by the clerks, with the as- 
sistance, as the law requires; and also of Adams county 
not being certified under the seal of the county. Com- 
paring the residue of the returns, we find that Return 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 95 

Jonathan Meigs lias 3,299 votes, and Nathaniel Massie 
has 2,817 votes, such as your committee consider as legal, 
and that Return Jonathan Meigs has a majority of 982 
votes." Massie did not accept the result as final, but de- 
cided to contest the election on constitutional grounds, 
and served notice accordingly. When the two branches 
of the General Assembly met in joint session to decide 
the contest, Nathaniel Massie was asked whether he had 
served notice on Judge Meigs, whereupon he produced 
a copy of such notice, as follows : 

" To Return Jonathan Meigs, Jun., Esquire : 

Sir: — You will take notice that I intend to contest 
your election to the office of Governor for the State of 
Ohio, on the following grounds : 

1. That you do not possess the qualifications re- 
quired by the Constitution of this State to hold and ex- 
ercise the office of Governor. 

2. That you have not been an inhabitant of this 
State four years next preceding the election of Governor, 
on the second Tuesday of October last past (1807), as 
expressly required by the third section of the second 
article of the Constitution of this State. 

3. That within four years next preceding the late 
election, as aforesaid, you have resided in, and exercised 
the office of Judge of the United States in the Terri- 4 - 
tory of Upper Louisiana, to which you were duly com- 
missioned by the President of the United States, sworn 
to discharge the duties of Judge as aforesaid, and 
received the salary attached by law to said office, during 



96 The Life of Nathaniel Mas*i< . 

which time yon resided, and was an inhabitant of Upper 
Louisiana. 

4. That you now hold an office under the United 
States. 

5. That on the second day of April last past, you 
were appointed by the President of the United Stale- 
Judge of the Michigan Territory, and received the sal- 
ary attached to said office. 

jSTathaniel Massie. 
Chillicothe, Dec. 25, 1807." 

The legislative journal then gives the following ac- 
count of their proceedings: " Mr. Brush was admitted 
as counsel for Massie, the contestor, who moved to post- 
pone the trial until the contestor should collect testi- 
mony to establish the specifications made. Mr. Meigs, 
Jr., the Governor elect, informed the President and the 
two houses that he conceived it to be his duty to repl} r 
to the specifications contained in the notice, which he 
read in his place, as follows, to wit : 

"Nathaniel Massie against Return Jonathan Meigs, Jim., 
mi Contest of Election to the Office of Governor: 

REPLY. 

To the specification of the first point contained in 
the notice of the contestor, the said Return Jonathan 
Meigs replies that he doth possess the qualifications re- 
quired by the Constitution of this State to hold and ex- 
ercise the office of Governor. 

To the specification of the second, he replies that 
he hath been an inhabitant of this state for four years 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 97 

next preceding the election for Governor, on the second 
Tuesday of October last past, as expressly required by 
the Constitution of this State. 

To the specification of the third point he replies, 
that true it is, that within four years next preceding the 
late election, as aforesaid, he did temporarily reside 
in, and exercise the office of Judge of the United States 
in the Territory of Upper Louisiana, to wit, from the 
4th day of July, 1805, to the 20th day of said month, 
and from the 6th day of May, 1806, to the 15th day of 
July following, to which office he was duly commis- 
sioned by the President of the United States, sworn to 
discharge the duties as Judge aforesaid, and did re- 
ceive the salary attached by law to said office from the 
said fourth day of July, 1805, until the last day of March, 
1807, and that he was not an inhabitant of Upper Lou- 
isiana. 

To the specification of the fourth point he replies, 
that he doth not now hold an office under the United 
States. 

To the specification of the fifth point he replies, 
that true it is that on the 2d day of April he was ap- 
pointed by the President of the' United States Judge of 
the Michigan Territory, and received the salary at- 
tached to said office, to wit, until the last day of Sep- 
tember last. 

And the said Return Jonathan Meigs reserves to 
himself the right of explaining, by testimony, the cir- 
cumstances and facts which relate to the aforesaid 
points, conceded or denied. 

Return Jonathan Meigs, Jun." 



98 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Mr. Brush waived his motion, and the following 
statement of facts were agreed to be given in evidence : 



STATEMENT, ETC. 

" In December, 1804, I left Ohio, and arrived in 
Louisiana in January, 1805, bearing a commission of 
colonel in the army of the United States, and command- 
ant of the district of Missouri. The office of command- 
ant and colonel expired by law at the close of the session 
of Congress, in the spring of 1806. In July, 1805, I 
received a commission as Judge of the Territory of 
Louisiana. I returned to Ohio in August, 1805, having 
been then absent from Ohio but 7i months, and having 
then resided in Louisiana but 6 months. 

In April, 1806, 1 went to Louisiana, and returned in 
July, 1806, having been then absent from Ohio between 
three and four months, and having then resided in Louis- 
iana but little more than 2h months. The whole absence 
from Ohio, both times included, amounts but to 11 
months, and the residence in Louisiana to 8i months. 

During the last session of the Legislature of Ohio, 
I was commissioned by the Governor of the State to 
carry into effect the law " to prevent certain acts hostile 
to the peace and tranquillity of the United States within 
the jurisdiction of this State," under which I acted in 
arresting Burr's flotilla, etc. During the same session I 
was elected by the Legislature trustee for lands granted 
for religious purposes in the county of Washington, un- 
der which I acted. On the 4th of July, 1807, I received 
a commission as Judge of the Territory of Michigan, 
which I accepted. The commission was dated either the 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 99 

1st or 2d of April preceding, and had been missent to 
Louisiana — was never qualified to office in Michigan. 
Almost immediately after the receipt of the last com- 
mission, I was summoned to Richmond on Col. Burr's 
trial — returned as soon as discharged, in October last. 

I have (except the several absences above men- 
tioned) resided with my family at Marietta, in Ohio, 13 
years, and not elsewhere. During that period my family 
never left Marietta. My absence in Louisiana was on a 
colonial commission, on behalf of the State of Ohio, as 
well as for the United States. If an}^ material fact or 
circumstance is herein omitted, I will readily insert it. 

R. J. Meigs, Jun. 
Chillicothe, December 14, 1807." 

Mr. Joseph Hammond was admitted as counsel for 
Governor Meigs. Both parties, by their counsel, were 
heard before the joint session of the General Assembly, 
and after a full hearing, and " the testimony being gone 
through on both sides," the following resolution was 
adopted by a vote of yeas 24, nays 20 : 

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, 
That Return J. Meigs, Jun., is not eligible to the office 
of Governor." 

Yeas — Senators Bigger, Bryan, Claypool, McArthur, 
Thomas; Representatives Alex. Campbell, Mathias Cor- 
win, William Corry, Andrew Ellison, Thomas Elliott, 
George Harlan, Benjamin Hough, William W. Irvin, 
John Jones, Philip Lewis, Jr., William Lewis, Elias 
Langham, James McClure, Jeremiah McLene, John 



100 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Patterson, John Pollock, Joseph Tatman, Win. Vance, 
Thomas Worthington — 24. 

Xays — Senators Cone, Dillon, Jewett, McConnell, 
McLaughlin, Price, Scofield, Sharp, Wood; Kepresenta- 
tives John R. P. Bureau, Daniel C. Cooper, Zebulon 
Foster, Othniel Looker, John Matthews, Thomas Mc- 
Cune, James Montgomery, Joseph Palmer, John Sloane, 
John W. Seely, Philemon P>eecher (President)— 20. 

The two Houses acting in the capacity of a court, 
adjourned sine die, December 30, 1807." 

Massie, it will he seen, at no time claimed the offiee, 
nor was his right to it discussed at all as far as the legis- 
lative journals show. His friend, McDonald, says, "he 
was too magnanimous to accept it when his competitor 
had a majority of the votes." His probable reason for 
contesting was to please his friends and to give the 
place to his faithful supporter, Thomas Kirker, of 
Adams county, who, by reason of being President of 
the Senate, succeeded to the vacant office. The next 
year, Massie received the support of his section of the 
state in the General Assembly for the United States 
Senatorship, hut was again defeated by Judge Meigs. 

Nathaniel Massie had been commissioned by Presi- 
dent Adams a colonel of the militia of the North-West 
Territory and was, under the new state constitution, 
elected the first Major-General of the second division of 
the militia of Ohio, which position he continued to hold 
until 1.810, when he sent in his resignation. In those 
days, when Ohio was a frontier state, constantly men- 
aced by the Indians and British along her northern 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 101 

borders, the militia were a most important body, and 
the officers held in high esteem. The last public act of 
General Massie's life was in this very connection, and is 
thus related by McDonald : " In the spring of the year 
1813, when the British and Indians besieged the army, 
under the command of the brave General Harrison in 
Fort Meigs, the news of the danger with which our 
army was threatened, roused Massie from his retreat at 
the falls of Paint creek. Although now getting on in 
years, a spark of his youthful lire still remained un- 
quenched. As soon as he learned that his countrymen 
were in danger, he shouldered his rifle, mounted his 
horse, and rode to almost every house on Paint creek, 
urging to his fellow-citizens every argument that pa- 
triotism could suggest to take the field without delay, 
and relieve our army from its perilous situation. Al- 
though he had no legal right to command, this did not 
deter him from joining his countrymen in arms. Num- 
bers joined him from Paint creek. With these he pro- 
ceeded to Chillicothe. There, likewise, a number joined 
him. There was no time to organize, as delay might be 
fatal to our countrymen, who were cooped up in Fort 
Meigs, surrounded with thrice their number of white 
and red savages. The party, being on horseback, moved 
rapidly to Franklinton, gathering strength as they went 
along. At Franklinton, there was a depot of public 
arms. Arms and ammunition were there distributed to 
upwards of five hundred men, and Massie was elected 
commander by acclamation. They left Franklinton with- 
out delay, and as the men were all mounted they dashed 
ahead as fast as their horses could carry them to the 



102 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

scene of action. When they had nearly reached Lower 
Sandusky, they were met by an express from General 
Harrison with the news, that the enemy had raised the 
siege of Fort Meigs and returned to Canada. Massie 
and his volunteers returned to Chillicothe, where they 
disbanded themselves and returned every man to his 
farm. Thus ended the expedition, after the absence of 
a few days." 

So much space has been devoted to Nathaniel Mas- 
sie's public life on account of its historical interest, for 
by reason of his being the beloved leader of the pioneers, 
the helpful friend of every new settler, the most widely 
known, outside of the Virginia Military District, of any of 
its citizens, and by far the wealthiest, most popular and 
influential of them all, he was, naturally, their acknowl- 
edged political leader, and, according to all contempo- 
raneous testimony, possessed a high degree of char- 
acter and ability, which left a lasting impression on our 
state. Both his letters and those of his contemporaries 
show, that he cared more for principles than for place ; 
that he had little desire for a public career; was not 
ambitious in that direction, and was often indifferent 
and sluggish in political affairs. What he did was more 
from a sense of duty and for the sake of facilitating 
the development of the commonwealth than for per- 
sonal aggrandizement. The long years spent by him in 
the wilderness without a family, or home, undoubtedly, 
made him very eager to enjoy those blessings and to 
prefer them to the turmoil of public life. His property, 
too, demanded careful attention; for, while he owned 
much land, its possession and improvement had burdened 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 103 

him with a large indebtedness. It is certain, that after 
he had seen all his dearest political hopes realized by 
the adoption of the constitution, his chief desire was to 
settle on his farm and while enjoying his home to de- 
velop his property, pay his debts, and provide for the 
education and establishment of his children. The clos- 
ing chapter of this sketch will be devoted to this side 
of his life's work. 



104 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Private and Domestic Affairs— Death. 

Nathaniel Massie was wise enough to know that his 
large estate would be of little value until the country 
became settled and civilized, until the forests were 
felled, roads laid out, stores and shops opened and 
schools and churches built. With these objects in view, 
he encouraged immigration both by donations and sales 
of laud on liberal terms, founded towns that the people 
might have convenient centers for barter and trade, and 
also established new industries. In his papers and 
letters we find him building saw, grist and paper mills, 
erecting an iron furnace and starting a distillery. He 
was always an intelligent farmer and anxious to forward 
the interests of agriculture, both by improving the 
strains of horses and cattle, and by procuring the new- 
est and best varieties of seeds and fruit trees. His cor- 
respondence about procuring some clover seed (the 
most valuable of all fertilizers) is in itself sufficient to 
establish his reputation as a farmer. 

Of course, the details of managing his real estate 
occupied the greater portion of his time. Making sales, 
sub-dividing surveys to suit purchasers, perfecting titles, 
writing deeds, paying taxes and making leases, was 
work enough for one man. Besides his own property he 
had charge of the lands of numerous non-residents who 
kept him busy answering questions and acting for them 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 105 

in the management of their estates. These people, not 
only freely used his time, but usually asked him to pay 
their taxes and draw for the amount — at that day a 
very slow and uncertain proceeding. During the early 
years of this century, money was scarce in Ohio, and 
credit was much in vogue. Most of Massie's land sales 
were on time. Many of his enterprises required cash. He 
thus became much involved, both as a creditor and debtor, 
and was constantly under a severe strain to meet his 
obligations. With his public duties and private cares, 
Nathaniel Massie was a very busy man, yet he always 
had time to show hospitality to the numerous persons 
who came to the new state either on business or pleas- 
ure. Says McDonald : " This country, at that time, was 
very much visited by the citizens of Virginia, as the}' 
owned large quantities of land in this section. General 
Massie's residence was the usual resort, where they al- 
ways met with a welcome reception and were hospitably 
entertained. In his hospitalit}-, indeed, he rather bor- 
dered on extravagance, especially when visited by 
any of his old war-worn and woods companions. No 
gratification, which he could afford, but was freely ex- 
tended to those who followed him in times of danger. 
His lady, although raised in polished and fashionable 
life, took great pleasure in rendering his awkward woods 
companions easy and at home. I well remember it was 
in Mrs. Massie's room I first saw tea handed around for 
supper, which I then thought foolish business, and still 
remain of that opinion." 

The residence referred to in the foregoing extract 
was the home which Nathaniel Massie had built for his 



106 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

bride; it is located near the Falls of Paint creek on a 
little plateau overlooking for miles the rich • bottoms 
which bound that stream and surrounded by the beauti- 
ful hills which follow its course. The house, a large 
comfortable frame structure, is still occupied, and the 
farm on which it stands has always been considered 
among the best in Ross county. None combines such 
rich plow ground, magnificent bine-grass pastures and 
splendid streams of running water. It is now the 
property of Elijah Rockhold, Esq., of Bainbridge, and 
is about two miles west of that town. 

Nathaniel Massie in his numerous journeys to Ken- 
tucky was a frequent visitor at Chaumiere des Prairies, 
near Lexington, the handsome and elegant Jiome of 
Colonel David Meade, a member of the well known Vir- 
ginia family of that name. Here he met Susan Everard 
Meade, one of the daughters of the house, and here he 
married her in 1800. The home in Ohio to which he 
brought his bride was like those of their people in Vir- 
ginia and Kentucky in all, save that there were no 
slaves. A numerous retinue of retainers of many kinds 
and colors, however, took their place. One of these 
was the hunter, who supplied the family with game, the 
Shawnee chief, Waw-wil-a-way, whose tragic death is 
one of the foulest crimes ever committed in Ohio. 

General Massie was allowed to enjoy his home and 
family for only a few years, dying November 3, 1813, of 
pneumonia, or rather of the treatment, which was then 
prescribed for that disease — profuse bleeding. 

His wife and five children survived him, three sons 
and two daughters. The sons were Nathaniel, Richard 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 107 

and Henry, and the daughters, Eliza, afterwards the wife 
of AVm. L. Thompson, of Louisville, K\\, and Xancy, 
afterwards the wife of William Y. Strong, of Chilli- 
cothe. 

Nathaniel Massie lived less than fifty years, but ac- 
complished in that brief period more than most men are 
ever allowed to do, and his influence extended far beyond 
his own day and generation. As a pioneer he led the 
way for his race to enter into and possess one of the 
most fertile and beautiful regions in our country. As a 
statesman, he exerted a strong and lasting influence on 
the commonwealth which he helped to found. He loved 
and was loved by his fellow citizens. " Indeed, his good 
offices to the first settlers of the country were so numer- 
ous that it would have been risking a good deal to speak 
irreverently of the man." Xo man is perfect. Nathan- 
iel Massie was a man, and, doubtless, had his faults. 
These died with him. His influence for liberty and 
right still continues to bless those who follow him. 

General Massie was buried on his farm. In June, 
1870, his remains and those of his w T ife were removed to 
the Cemetery at Chillicothe, where they now rest under 
a handsome granite monument erected by his descend- 
ants, and which overlooks for miles the beautiful Scioto 
Valley, into which he was the first to bring civilization. 
7 



108 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 



PART SECOND. 

SELECTIONS FROM THE LETTERS AND PA- 
PERS OF GENERAL NATHANIEL MASSIE. 

(For explanations see Appendix A. i 



Thomas Massie, Jr., to Nathaniel Massie, Jr. 

April 10th 178(3. 
Dear Brother : — I Have The favourable opportunity 
of writing by Mr. Perkins And Can Inform you we are 
in Tolerable Good Health at Present, and Hope These 
lines will Meet with you in like state of Health, Mr. 
Perkins Brings you Three pounds from Me And three 
from your Father, which I lent Him. I Promised to do 
it when He wrote His letter, I Ve parted with Some 
Money since and could not Collect any, or I would send 
you More; I am in Hopes you Have finnally sold The 
laud you Informed me you had Conditionally sold, be- 
fore you Came in, if you Have, there is no danger of 
your suffering, if you Have sold it, or do sell it, before 
you Come in & its Convenient to } 7 ou, to bring in two 
strong work Horses for me, I should Take it exceeding 
Kind, as they are Very dear in this part of the world, 
I've nothing new to Inform you of only the Arrival of 
a fine son & the death of Geo. Holland & John Parrish, 
Geo. Holland Had a Very Hard fight with Jas. Wood- 
son at Goochland Court last & was Very Much Beaten 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 109 

& was taken Very 111 in one or two days & was a Mad 
Man as long as he lived which was only eleaven days 
after This Battle, John Parrish droped dead in His 
New Ground a few days ago. 

I conclude with being Yrs. in the Greatest Esteem 

Thos. Massie Jr. 

X. B. I should be Glad to Hear when you Intend 
in by the first opportunity. Give my Compliments to 
Mr. T. Hopkins. T. M. 

[This letter was written in Virginia and addressed 
to Fayette county, Kentucky.] 

John Marfan to Nathaniel Massie.. 

Hanging Forke April 26th 1786. 
Dear Sir: — I am at this Time Not able to cum over 
to see you, on the Business that I promised you as for 
My attending the survays it will not Make the Lest Dif- 
ference as you can Do it as well as if I was with you. I 
wish you to Devide the Lands that is survayd Belonging 
to the Duchmen and survay the Enters that Lys Joining 
of them Lands, and Devid the Enters also. Survay that 
land you Purchased of Capt. Owing and survay the 1500 
acre Entery that is Located at Logans old Camp on 
Berds Trace a Bought one Mile from a Mother Large 
Camp; the old Camp was Maid on the first Camppaine 
in year 80, and the other the next camppaine — I wish you 
to survay the Enters that is on the heads of grassey 
Creek, in Name of howard Lewis ; if you Can find whear 
Crews w 7 as Bureyed at a Camp you Can Esey find the 
Enters, you Must take the Marked way from the Camp 



110 The Life of Nathaniel 31<tssie. 

up a ridge Westardly Course, a Bought Two Miles 
and the way Is Marked all the way for the two miles 
with a Tommahock, and then you will turn Down a 
hollow to your left hand nntill you Cross a Branch of 
grassey creek, and you will see sum stumps whear there 
has Ben sum fire wood Cut on the Est side of the 
Branch, and Contenue the Marked way the Same Cours 
prohap 2h Miles Near the head of the G-C waters and 
there you will finde sum Trees Marked as the Enterys 
Calls for on the West side of a Black Oake and sum 
small Trees Marked Xear the S- Oake and 3-011 will re- 
turn Down to the same Branch and keep Down the same 
Branch to the Creek and Down the Creek to the fork 
and Cross at the forks and go a south Est Course a 
Bought lour Miles nntill you cum to a Creek, then up 
S- Creek nntill you find a Camp on S- Creek in the 
Bottom whear you will see Trees peeled & stumps and a 
old Camp — and there is Mr. howard Lewises Entery of 
2000 acres you will find Beginning a Bought 50 Roods 
below the Camp on Bufelow Trace on a ash Tree 
Marked with M Black with Powder. The Mark is 
faceing Down the Creek. I peeled the Bark of with my 
knife and survay Stephen's Entery a Bout Mearney and 
Youngs preemtion and that I think will Be as Much as 
Can Do at this Time. 

Xow My good friend if you Cannot Do it pray 
Wright a Letter to me and Direct it To Mr. Xeagle in 
Danville But I will be Glad if you Can Do it and I 
will give you live pounds besids your fees- 

Promis your Cheain Caryers goods for their wages 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. Ill 

which I will pay on your return and I am sir your friend 

and Very humble servt. 

John Mart an 
Mr. JSTath Masey — 

General James Wilkinson to Nathaniel Massie. 

Danville 15 Dec 1786 
Dear Sir: — I beg you to proceed with all posible 
dispatch to the Falls. You will call by the Lick & urge 
the provision of the Salt, and prepare some way of con- 
veying it to the River, when you get to the falls you will 
call in Mr. Joyes and Col. Anderson. You will receive 
from the former, the Barge, Tackle &c ; with the neces- 
sary provision, & push around for the salt: when this is 
shiped you will make the best of your way to Nashville, 
and there dispose of it for Cotton, Beaver, Furr, rack- 
oons, otters &c. and horses which would be suitable for 
the draft not younger than 3 or older than 7 years, and 
such as would sell here for If) pounds & 20 pounds Cash. — 
If Cowes can be brought up safe and you find dull sale 
for the other articles you may exchange for them — but 
you will always observe to get as much Cash as you can — 
When you have completed your sales, you will your- 
self move with the Florses &c by Land & commit the other 
articles with the Barge to Capt. Alexander with direc- 
tions to Him to proceed up to the Falls, there secure the 
Boat & property and give me the earliest advice of his 
arrival by Express or otherwise. 

The Goods which Capt Alexander carries down to 
the Falls I wish you to exchange for such Horses as I 
have already described, or for elegant, high Blooded 



112 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Mares if yon can get great bargains — otherwise sell them 
for Cash, Peltry or Cotton or Cowes if they can be 
brought up, — or if you find it impracticable to part with 
them on these terms & can get a Capital bargain in Land 
situated on the River with secure Title, you may let 
them go — You will go to the Lick & if Capt. Carberry 
is not there make such arrangements emporting the Salt 
ns you may judge proper, taking care to receipt "for no 
Salt which is not clean k dry. You will make the man 
now there account for all he may have received and dis- 
charge Him as soon as you think proper; before yon 
leave the place you will settle with Mrs. Christians 
Granger and transmit me by a safe Hand a Copy of the 
A nit: — Yon will allow no credit but on my orders & 
what you yourself receive, & remember the Bond to me 
is for a clean dry Salt which you will take care to have 
measured, in a proper & honest way, with a spade or 
shovel and suffer no sifting — the quantity I was to re- 
ceive is 666| Bushels, I think I have drawn for about 
17<> Bushels the balance with what you may get from 
Mr. Sebastian, you will take down with you on our Joint 
Acct : — one Smith is preparing to go down with 2 or 300 
bushels ; from the Cow Lick, endeavor to get off before 
Him and if you cannot, persuade Him to stay for you, 
but you must not wait for him a moment as it will be 
your interest to arrive before Him — you will remember 
you are going among a sett of sharpers and therefore 
must take care of yourself — Above all things be careful 
of the Large; if you should find it difficult to get rid of 
the salt perhaps it would he well to send Capt. Alexan- 
der to part with 100 bushels in a perogue. You must 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 113 

write to me by every opportunity leting me know how 
you come on, don't fail in this. God bless you and give 
you good Luck — Yours sincerely, 

J. Wilkinson 
]ST. B. You will allow in the settlement of the salt, 
appropriated by Capt. Carberry — & what Mr. Joyes 
had — you will inclose me before you sail by a safe hand, 
a Bond for the amount of the salt you received at 12 p 
per bushel, & for one half of the cost of the Barge and 
Expences at Louisville — when you return I will give 
you credit for the Barge — don't fail to do this as I am 
answerable for the whole distinguishing your amount 
between the salt reed at the two licks ; say how much 
from Sebastian, Capt Alexanders trunk will be sent down 
to the Falls b}" the waggon which brought it up next 
week. Send up from Ferguson and by the pack horse 
Alexander takes down, the Sugar & Coffee. Jo}^es will 
do this. 

J. Brown to Rev. T. B. Craighead. 

Danville Decemb. 22d 1786. 
Dear Sir: — This will be handed to you by Mr. 
Xath'l Massie a young Gentleman who supports a good 
Character in this Country & who as an acquaintance of 
mine, I beg leave to recommend to your friendship & 
attention. Mr. Massey takes with him a large quantity 
of Salt which he proposes to Barter for the produce of 
your Country. But as he will be altogether a stranger 
& consequently liable to great Impositions, & more 
especially as Gen'l Wilkinson a particular friend of mine 
is principally concerned. I must therefore request that 



114 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

you will assist him in this Business with your Advice 
& with any Information you may think necessary. 
I am with esteem 

Yr mt Obt 
Thos. B. Craighead. J. Brown. 

General James Wilkinson to Nathaniel Massie. 

Fayette, 29th, Dee. 1786, 
Friday morning. 

Dear Massie : — I approve of your plan to go to the 
port with two hundred bushels of salt, and sell for cash 
or furs, but take no deer skins. Be sure and get as 
many otters as possible. Be cautious in your move- 
ments, guard against the savages, coming and going, 
and discharge your men the moment you get to the 
port. 

The only thing you have to dread is the ice. To 
be caught in the ice would be more than the devil's 
own luck. 

Act with decision and dispatch ; whatever you do. 
God bless you. J. Wilkinson. 

Nathaniel Massie, Sr., to Nathaniel Massie, Jr. 

Goochland County, May 3d, 1787. 
Loving Son : — I received yours from Capt. Greenup 
wherein you informed me that you had undertaken to 
cut a road from Lexington to the Great Kenawa, which 
you judge to be 150 Miles nigher and a better way. I 
am glad to heare that you are doing well for yourself, 
have wrought by Mr. Morris that I should be glad to 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 115 

see you the first opportunity you have ; as you have 
found a nigher way shall be glad to see ^ou soon. Mr. 
Turner Richardson is a Gentleman of My Acquaintance 
and has a desire to move to that Country, shall take it 
kind if you will direct him to land that is safe from 
disputes, and to look me out a good place that is con- 
venient. If please God to spare me shall move to that 
Country. There is a great schearcety of plants and 
corn likely to be scharce. I am in hopes this will find 
you in perfect health, we are all well as Commonley we 

are and am your 

Loving father 

Xatii'l Massie. 

Nathaniel Massie, Jr., to Thomas Miller. 

Fayette, March 9th, 1787. 
D. Sir: — I make no doubt but you have long ex- 
pected to have received your patent before this ; on my 
arrival to this Country the last time I found the claim that 
yours depended on was disputed, upon consulting one 
of the attorneys he advised me to stop the patents from 
Issuing until it was determined whether the claim 
would be established which I have done ; should the 
claim be proved not surveyed on the improvement by 
which it was obtained, it must undoubtedly lose the 
land, in consequence of which, all the other entries 
must share the same fate ; altho' you have Martin obli- 
gated to make the laud good, I have thought the 
most advantageous plan is to let the party contending 
point out said improvement and in case they should 
destroy the claim you then can have the privilege of 



116 The Life of Nathan it I Massie. 

surveying agreeable to the improvement established, it 
was to have been determined this last court but the 
party contending* did not appear. I have some reason 
to believe the claim will be established but as the 
Judgment of the court is uncertain, it would be im- 
proper to carry matters too far ; so as they can not be 
recalled, should you have the misfortune to lose your 
land the Gentleman obligated is not able to make satis- 
faction which is one of my principle reasons for acting 
in the manner I have, you perhaps may be of a contrary 
opinion and Judge the proceedings not altogether as you 
would wish as I have acted without any authority, but 
you may rest assuredly that every thing that is done 
from the best advice in this country, and as I am con- 
siderably interested in this matter and the whole of the 
entries depend upon yours it is necessary to act with 
caution as there is no alternative when carried too far. 

I shall proceed in about ten days to open a road 
from Lexington to intersect the road upon the great 
Kenawa which will cause a greater intercourse between 
the western and Eastern settlements than been hitherto. 

Should Capt Greenup make it convenient to call 
on you he can give you some Idea of the claims in this 
country as he is a clerk to the supreme court, with es- 
teem remain yrs 

Mo. Ob. H. Sr. 

X. Massie, Jr. 

John Machir to Nathaniel Massie. 
Sir: — Having unluckih' missed seeing you at my 
return from Danville I left an open note with the Col. 
requesting you to bring up some platts for me, since 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 117 

recollecting some more business at Louisville I beg leave 
to trouble you a little farther. I inclose a receipt of 
D. W. Easter's for a balance due on a iSTote I assisted 
him which I wish you to press him to discharge. I in- 
tended sending it in Jan'y last and settled the Interest 
to that date as you will see in the back, what has accrued 
since, you will please to add & if he cannot or will 
not pay off' take his note for the Balance in my name. 
Pray enquire into the state of Holliday &c claims & 
return what you find clear, you will be examining into 
the fate of the Por run entries on your own acct, take 
notice of Shepherd Jacksons at the mouth of the run a 
late entry in the name of Bayles & let me know how 
they stand affected at your return, also Win. Henry ad- 
joining you P. A. Hall & N. Long adjoining McGuires 
or in a word any other you know me to be concerned in 
in that quarter. If Mr. Cove has agreed to accept my 
offer for his salt let me know by the bearers return, or if 
he has left a power with you to dispose of it, his lowest 
terms. Salt is extremely scarce here but I cannot think 
of buying any otherwise than to sell out for 2 Barrels 
Corn. Col. Lyne used to sell for Eight bushels & it 
seems taking an ungenerous advantage of the peoples 
necessity in an article they are obliged to have to exact 
an exorbitant price. I will give thirty-five Barrels corn 
for the twenty bushels if It can be delivered at the house 
of the persons I may sell to or thirty and deliver it 
where Col. says he means to settle. Command my serv- 
ices in any thing I can do for you here. In the mean- 
time I am Sir your Hble Sevt J. B. Machi'r, 

Woodstock 2<l Jmn- 88. 



118 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 



Nathaniel Massie, Sr., to his Son. 

Goochland County 

Octr 4th 1788. 
Loving Son: — I ree'd yours, favoured by Mr. Un- 
derwood, wherein you informed me that you had not 
exchanged the land that we had of Mr. Morton, as for 
my part of the land I have at Iventuckey shall leave it 
all to you to make the best you Can of it, to exchange 
for Lands that are more Convenient ; should you give 
boot your Cousin Tommey will sell you his part of the 
land we had of Mr. Morton ; you likewise informed me 
that you had made a trip over the Ohio, that you tarried 
but a few days, am afraid that you venture too much, 
Should you escape after doing what you have engaged, 
would advise you to drop venturing so much. Mr. 
George Holland lost his warrant before he died, I can 't 
find who has got it ; I am informed they have held a 
Committey at Kentuckey whether they should be con- 
formable to the Constitution, I wish they would not be 
too fast; by your last that you would finish all you have 
undertaken by the spring, God send you a safe return, 
Archelus Riddle and Famaley has moved to the 
Sotheard, they like that Country much — we have had a 
very wet summer Crops of Wheat & Corn are Good, not 
above half Crops of Tobacco, Great Crop of Cider & 
brandey. Shall keep a cask of Cider till the first of 
April expecting then to see you, if God willing. It is 
very sickley times, not many departes in our nabour- 
hood : have one nesrro girl sick, all the rest well as Com- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 119 

mon ; Famaley Joines in love to you and am your loving 
Father — Nathl Massie. 

James Wilkinson to Nathaniel Massie. 
Mr Nathl Massey 

Dear Sir: — I will esteem it a very particular favor 
if you can in conjunction with Col. Orr purchase all the 
Tobacco in the Limestone Settlement on the following 
terms, to wit at 10/ or 12/ per 100 H. Cash. I will 
pay in Hand for 25 or 30 Hodgs. 100 Dollars and the 
balance in nine months'or goods immediately, and so in 
proportion tho it will not be an object to purchase less 
than 15 Hogsheads. The Tobacco to be in good neat 
Hogsheads & exported by Col. Lee — the quality must be 
good or it will not answer. — I will honor your draft for 
the Cash and must beg to know the Issue of your 
attempt as soon as possible, in case the purchase is 
made I shall be obliged to you ; to secure a good strong 
well covered Boat & five hands at 35 Dollars the Trip 
to N Orleans— I shall want the Tobacco at the Falls by 
the 8th of April, but will give you future advice when 
to embark it. 

I shall also be much obliged to you to examine and 
divide Whites surVey agreeable to the plan — we con- 
versed on & to add a Certificate of the Quality, Situation 
&c. with your opinion of the Value of that Land — I 
will allow 12 pounds in Merchandise for this service. 
I am with sincere Esteem 
D Sir 

Yr. Mt Obclt Sevt 

James Wilkinson 
Lexington Feby 22nd 1790. 



120 Tfu Life of Nathaniel Massie. 



Thomas Massie, Jr. to Nathaniel Massie. 

Goochland County 

April 10th 1790 
Dr Sir: — I had the pleasure of Receiving a Letter 
from you dated October the 11th 1789. . . . 

I have nothing worth relating only the Greatest 
part of your old Sweat Harts are single yet. 
I am with Esteem yr friend & Relation 

Thos. Massie Jr. 

Joseph Wat kins to Nathaniel Massie. 

Virginia Feby 22nd 1793 

Dear Sir: — Your favour dated at Lexington July 
the 8 1792 by Cap. Webber I received. 

The present price and has been for a Considerable 
time for Military Certificates is 1576 in the pounds and 
those of all descriptions. 

I acknowledge the favour of the Constitution of the 
State of Kentucky which 1 was desirous to have seen 
for some time past. This Constitution perhaps have 
fewer defects than all most any in the Union and so far 
as my Judgment Extends am pleased with it — tho much 
depends on Good government by those persons who 
have and hold the reans thereof. 

Should you in your Toner in the Wilderness dis- 
cover any real or natural Curiositys I will thank you for 
a description thereof. By the Latest Accounts from 
France it appears theay have driven the Duke of Bruns- 
wick out of there Territory and have taken a Number 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 121 

of Towns belonging to the Austrians. All Europe ap- 
pear to be Arming — making preparation for War. En- 
gland has already sent a fleet of forty seven ships of the 
Line — and Ireland in a State of Rebellion. 

With respect to any of my business on the N. W. 
of the Ohio do as you may Judge prudent. Wishing 
you prosperous and remain with due respect your 

Friend 

Joseph Watkins 

P. S. I have a 100 acre warrant in the Continental 

Line if it will be of service to you advise me of it. 

W. Mlzey, Jr. to Nathaniel Massie. 

Baikds Town June 26th 1795 
Dear Sir: — I understood from you that you were 
about to carry a considerable sum of money thro' the 
wilderness — If you are not disappointed in getting this 
money will you do me the fav. to let me have a part of 
it for Bills upon Alexandria or Richmond to be paid 
at sight — I have at present a prospect of making a bar- 
gain in this neighborhood in which case I shall want 
from GOO pounds to 1000 pounds — I can satisfy you that 
I have a right to draw for any sum, and as it will be 
saving you the risque of carriage I hope you will accom- 
modate me with the money. You will please inform me 
by the first opportunity to Danville whether you will 
have it in your power to serve me or write me to the 
care of Mr. Innis B. Brentz, Lexington. I am sincerely 

yr aft'ec friend 

W. Ellzey 2nd 

P. S. I can only tell you by Capt. Hite that I have 



122 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

been disappointed in this plan will inform me if you 

please whether you can accommodate me for the sum 

I mention or anv thing less. 

W. E. Jr. 
Mr. Massie. 

■Nathaniel Massie to . 



Philadelphia December 31st 1795. 

Dear Sir: — Your letter of the 20th Instant I re- 
ceived yesterday — to what circumstance my letter of the 
10th of Nov'r from Goochland having not reached you, I 
cannot amagine supposing however that my father had 
thought it advisable to deliver it himself. It con- 
tained a letter to Gen.l Hopkins and Williams with a 
statement of the Order given to Mr. Watkins and ray 
failure in the purchase of Harriss land, should it not 
reach you by your next I will give you the contents 
fully. 

I received on the 29th Instant of Mr. McClure & 
Co. on account of Mr. John Graham two thousand dol- 
lars, six hundred of which I have applied to the pur- 
chase of three thousand acres of Continental Virginia 
Military Warrants for him, the balance I shall indeavor 
to appropriate in the same manner. There was a per- 
son in this place when I was last here that offered me 
six thousand acres of warrants on the same terms that 
is twenty dollars per hundred, but on my application 
since I have been here, his price is twenty -five dollars 
per hundred which I do not think myself at liberty to 
give without advice from Mr. Graham, I have engaged 
Brokers to purchase warrants for me while I continue at 
this place. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massk. 123 

On my application to Mr. Massey to purchase Gates 
land he informed me that a few days before he had an 
offer for the whole at one dollar per acre, but from the 
advice of Mr. Van Murrey his friend in congress he had 
declined selling any part, a division was made of the 
land purchase of Ellzy the three hundred acres is to be 
laid off at the upper end of the fifteen hundred acre 
survey in Scioto, the other is a separate survey of five 
hundred acres and I took his obligation accordingly. 

I have some prospect of making a purchase of One 
thousand acres of land on the Ohio, being one half of a 
survey of two thousand acres made for Gen.l Scott, 
which he sold while at this place last winter to a Mr. 
Scott of Lancaster the. highest price I contemplate giv- 
ing is One dollar per acre it lies seven miles above where 
I live immediately opposite Graham's Station. I called 
on Mr. Duff to purchase, his survey on the north fork of 
Paint creek, he has promised to call on me in a few days 
to let me know his determination we had some conver- 
sation about the price I proposed one third of a dollar, 
he thought it very moderate but as he had not thought 
on the subject he could not make any terms. 

There was a motion made in the House of Repre- 
sentatives for opening a land office for the Northwestern 
lands of the U. S. The subject is now before a commit- 
tee, the lowest price spoken of is One dollar per acre. I 
think there is a probability of its being opened at a 
higher price little less than a dollar & half — whatever 
the price will be the military lands in a great measure 
will be regulated by it. 



124 The Life of Nathaniel Massii . 

When I leave this place which will be about the 
15th of January I shall take the way of Winchester in 
Virginia. If you should have any occasion to write 
there it will be a convenient place for me to hear from 
you. 

There has been an attempt to obtain a tract of 
country on lakes Huron, Erie & Michigan containing 
about Eighteen or twenty Millions of acres by corrupt- 
ing some of the members but were detected, you have 
the subject as full in the proceedings of the House of 
Eepresentatives as have transpired. 

I am Sir Yr. Ob. II. 

Xatii. Massie. 

Joseph Watkins to Nathaniel Massie. 

Goochland County Virginia 28th 

April 1796 
D Sir: — Your letters of December and February 
Came to hand with the order on Mr. Graham. The 
amount of which I have received it appeared to be your 
wish that I should purchase the boy Sawney brother to 
the one you purchased for Colo Anderson at the Sale of 
Underwoods Estate. For Various Causes the Sale of 
those Negroes has been protracted until some few days 
past. I had not the pleasure of seeing Colo Anderson 
on his return from Philadelphia tho took it for granted 
that it would be agreeable to you to make the purchase. 
The price Sixty three pounds it was a few pounds more 
than I suppose he would have sold for before the Sale 
tho boys of that Size Sell well I have him now in my 
possession to be delivd your order. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 125 

On 3'our leaving Richmond as well as Colo Ander- 
son I found the Land Speculation in Some measure to 
be less spoken of than when you were in town in short 
I here of few Sales that have taken place Since, tho it 
Continues to Rise in its Value what purchases I have 
heard of appear to be made in private and little said on 
the subject. I have discovered a Number of persons 
from allmost every point of the Compass in Serch of 
Land of that discription as the Sales heretofore made 
appear more favourable than the terms proposed by 
Congress, the Lands for sometime past on the S. East 
side appeared to be dull I now find theay are Looking 
up rapidly as there are a Number of persons leaving 
there Vews in that Quarter for Military Lands. 

I have been able only to purchase a warrant of 200 
acres I suppose you will take it for granted I am deal- 
ing in the small way — we have Little News in this 
Quarter at present the Treaty appears to ingage the 
attention of allmost every person at this time to little 
purpose. I am with Respect your Friend and Huble 

Servt 

Joseph Watkins 

Nathaniel Massie to James Herron. 

Manchester July 3 1796 
Sir:— Your letters of the 20th of April and 30th 
also the 10th of May covering land warrants to the 
amount of 1900 acres and of the 20th I have received 
since I wrote you last; you are correct in your statement 
of the warrants sent and received when at Richmond. 



126 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Received in Richmond 600 Acres. 
Philadelphia 666f 

Covered by Mr. Davis 1900 



Total 3166f 

I shall set out on Wednesday next to the office pre- 
pared to locate them, the land I expect to cover with 
them will be worth at present 8 p. per acre I am 
anxious to hear of your prospect with Braekenridge, 
The order to Fowler is clear in my opinion if the land 
was not sold prior to the date of Means contract; they 
arc willing to give up the land if that should appear^ 
however you understand the nature of the contract bet- 
ter than I do ; I have been lately informed that Mr. 

Cameron who claims Gen.l Williams land have offered 
it for sale if the tract on your list cannot be purchased 
separate I would recommend the whole to be purchased 
if it can be had for a dollar and a quarter, and take the 
earliest opportunity to make the trial. The prospect of 
making purchases in this country is dull there being 20 
purchasers for one seller; I shall endeavor to make a 
purchase on the Scioto of 3000 acres of Doer Knight in 
a few days, the result you will hear from me at Lexing- 
ton on my way from the falls if I fail in that purchase 
and you do not make Bracken ridge 1 shall not know 
what use to apply the money that may arise from the 
sale of Tibbs land, which at present will sell for two 
Guineas per acre, unless you & Mr. Graham may think 
proper to lay out the money in a few valuable sections 
on the upper side of the Scioto or have it remitted to 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 127 

you ; as I am of the opinion that it will not increase in 
value in proportion to a larger tract on this side of the 
Ohio; indeed the opening of the office for the sale of 
the U. S. lands has given a check to the rapid rise of 
Kentucky lands, I wish you to enclose my account that 
I may have sufficient time to remit what I am indebted 
by the first safe conveyance, yon will please to inform 
Mr. Means to forward his warrants as soon as possible. 
The business of locating is drawing to a close very fast. 

G-en.l Hopkins has sold his claims for 1.0/ ; my tour 
up the Scioto was not attended with any considerable 
profit, the country in general not answering my ex- 
pectations. 

I shall write yon again in a few days. 
I am Dear Sir respectfully 

Your Ob. H. S. 

Xatii.l Massie. 

J. Watkins to Nathaniel Massie. 

27th August 1796 
Dear Sir: — I am very desirous and without hopes, 
but that this will be handed yon, by my relation & 
particular friend Mr. Abram B. Venable— Our member 
of Congress for this District, one of the most deservedly 
esteemed among us — who has at this time of the Recess 
of Congress — a desire to see your much famed Western 
Country— should he find you on the Banks of the Ohio 
— where you directed me, when I had the pleasure of 
those few moments of your Company in Richmond last 
winter, the first & only time that I ever saw this one of 
my sister's sons, — who has strayed off from us — and 



128 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

taken a course different from all other of our relations — 
but judiciously & fortunately I hope, as 'tis said for him- 
self. Before I quit this subject, I trust you will excuse 
me when I give it you in particular charge — not to let 
the Indians scalp my friend — I have no doubt of your 
friendly offices to him while with you. 

It would afford me a real pleasure to have accom- 
panied him out, as I am anxious to see those fine Lands 
— But tied down as I am here to some offices, I am de- 
prived of this pleasure as well as that of seeing you at 
this time. But not altogether without hopes I may at 
some future day have this pleasure at your Ohio Villa. 

I am one of those of your relations who have been 
accustomed to the busy scenes of life, have a numerous 
family, — and saved some money to settle them. But 
undetermined in the choice of plans — all our most 
Independent & married men, seem to be running to the 
West, the greater proportion to the Kentucky & Ten- 
nessee States. 

The migrations from the Eastward who have an 
aversion to slavery — go your way — and these are the 
most valuable class of citizens & among these I had 
rather choose settlements for my family. But as I have 
before observed I cant look out for them on account of 
the reasons already mentioned. 

If you have not forgot the tics of relationship in 
the pursuit of wealth, and there is any Garden Spot left 
on your side of the Ohio which you do not wish to 
possess such as it is — esteemed of the Rich Old Cream, 
in the Vicinity of a good body of Land — claim title, & 
8 or 10,000 Acres — belonging to any person on the 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 129 

Eastern Waters. (I mean Atlantic States), which in 
your Opinion can be purchased, please drop me a line, 
describing every necessaiw particulars. I shall esteem 
the favor highly, and a very great favor indeed. 

Our relations to the Southward (among whom are 
some very clever and deserved men) Correspond with 
me, and these of this State visit, and we enjoy each oth- 
ers Company with a great deal of pleasure, but you have 
never made yourself acquainted by a visit on the South 
side of James River. It has been excusably discussed 
by all. But we do expect tis time for you to lay aside 
future exertions, and be Content with an abundance. 

Therefore if you do not the next time visit us when 
on the Eastern Waters, we shall not forgive it, unless 
a reasonable excuse can be offered. Referring you to 
my friend for news &c &c 

I am with great esteem & regard 

Yr aff Uncle 

J. Watkins. 

Nathaniel Massie to John Graham. 

Manchester April 4th 1797 
Dear Sir: — I have been disappointed in completing 
my business as early as I expected, I find it will be im- 
possible for me to set out to Virginia before some time 
in June, in consequence of which I have sent by my 
friend Mr. Daniel Vertner to be paid unto Messrs. Will- 
iam McClure & Co. of Philadelphia on your account, 
being the whole of the light money I could procure. I 
have also inclosed a note of Robert Means for three hun- 
dred and eighty six dollars, to be placed to my credit as 



130 The Life, of Nathaniel Massit . 

soon as it is paid, since writing yon of the 4th of Octo- 
ber I have received your letters of the 20th of August 
7th of September 10th of October 10th of August and 
the 14th of November. With the warrants inclosed, the 
whole of which is located. I shall determine respecting 
the revolution warrants immediately, I see some of mem- 
bers of congress from Kentucky. There can be no risk 
as you supposed, because when a location is made on a 
warrant the land stands appropriated, and may remain 
in that situation as long as a person may think proper or 
may be removed and located at pleasure, should I think 
proper to detain any of your warrants for that purpose — 
They will be located. I have not made the exchange 
with Slaughters tract of 500 acres for the one I men- 
tioned on the Scioto. The person and myself could not 
agree on the terms since which I have leased the land 
for six years to have improved with two good hewed log 
houses and a stone chimney in each, intending to make 
two small farms. I am offered for this land ten pounds 
per hundred acres annually for twenty one years or three 
lives, and to make considerable improvements with or- 
chards &c, but wishing to consult you and Mr. Heron on 
the subject I have put off the business untill I see you. 
Slaughters tract of 1000 acres at the mouth of eagle is, 
if the contract is confirm, a good purchase. There is a 
considerable improvement already made. The survey 
on eagle creek I will bring with me. 

Since having the proposal to lease the tract of 
Slaughters on the river at ten pounds per hundred I 
have made some inquiry and find it not a difficult mat- 
ter to lease several tracks well situated for that price. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 131 

I prefer that mode to the one we have generally in our 
country of renting annually for produce it relieves a 
person of a great deal of trouble. The only objection is 
the time is rather long. 

I am Dear Sir Y.r Ob. H.e 

ISTath. Massie. 

W. Sargent to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati 25th of August 1707 
Dear Sir: — I am so extremely anxious that the mi- 
litia of the Territory should be upon the most respectable 
Footing possible, that I am induced to write unto you a 
private Letter upon the occasion notwithstanding I have 
confidence in your attention and Exertion — The men 
must be well armed and when they shall neglect to fur- 
nish themselves they must be fixed as the Law directs 
which it is presumed will have the effect. 

In addition to the usual Exercise of our Woods 
manner of fighting you must keep in view that it is 
possible in the Course of Events we may be opposed to 
regular Troops. 

Almost the whole Territory I am happy to find are 
very fast getting military Zeal and Enthusiasm — the 
County of Adams I hope and trust will not be behind 

hand — 

I am with much Esteem 

Your humble servant 

W Sargent 



132 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 



Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Washington Sepr 9th 1797 

Dear Colo.: — I this moment received your favour by 
Mr. Gooding and am happy to hear you will pass 
through our country and expect you will when you get 
to Shepherdstown. Come to my house without further 
ceremony. I have heard of the yellow fever raging in 
Philadelphia and was I permitted to advise you it would 
be to keep from the city for some time to come as this 
is the season that all Large towms is most subject to be 
unhealthy and by the by if you stay in Berkeley for 
two weeks perhaps the Bargains we talked of may be 
made with the widow or some of our Berkeley Girls so 
that no time will be lost. 

The Gentleman of whom I expected to receive 

money is at present in Pittsburg but will be in this 

town today. I have wrote him to pay you all the 

money he can raise if he can not pay you the whole five 

hundred dollars. I hope he will pay you the whole. I 

am D. Sir with wishes for your safe arrival to our town 

Your Hble St. 

T. Worthington 

X. B. I will deliver your letter to Colo. Shepherd. 

Mr. Joseph Swearingen is the Gentleman I expect 
will pay you the money and lives with Mr. Parviance 
when at home. T. W. 

John Graham to Nathaniel Massie. 

Preston November 1st 97 
Dear Massie: — I wrote you sometime ago that I had 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 133 

sent on the Papers relative to Winkins Business by Mr. 
Lauman of Lexington with Directions to him to leave 
them at the House of Lauman and West in Philadel- 
phia if neither you or ray Brother were in the City. I 
hope you will rind them there together with a Warrant 
of Colo. Fleming's for 6000 acres which was inclosed with 
them. 

In a former letter I acknowledged the receipt of 
yours from Pittsburg which is the only favour we have 
had from you since you left this Country — We had the 
Pleasure to advance your Brother 250 Dollars of which 
Mr. Tebbs informed you at the same time requesting 
you to pay 250 Dollars' to Mr. Wm. I. Hall, Merchant 
Alexandria, he expected from you what your Brother 
told him that he would want the other 100 Dollars 
shortly — If his letter should have miscarried this I 
hope will reach you in time to let you know where to 
pay the Money. 

As it is very possible that my last letter did not 
get to hand (I directed to Phila) I will again mention 
my desire that you would dispose of our Military Lands 
if anything near what you think the value of them can 
be had — nothing but ray great anxiety to pay Kenton 
for this Bottom that I may get Deeds from him, should 
induce me, to part with those lands — 

George writes me that he has purchased Xieholsun's 
Warrants and as you have located them for my name- 
sake of Richmond I believe blended them with others 
of his he probably would give more for them than any 
body else — I have written to my Brother on the Subject 
of our Lands and doubt not that he has communicated 



134 The Lifi of Nathaniel Massie. 

to you his wishes if he declined selling I suppose I must 
do so too. as he in that ease must certainly have other 
Sources from whence to draw the Money for Kenton — 

You must observe that I write to you without any 
kind of disguise having the most implicit confidence in 
your Friendship — 

I had the Pleasure of seeing your Brother Henry at 
the District Court, he was in Washington for the pur- 
pose of looking up your Debtors — I should be happy to 
know when we may expect you Home and to know 
whether you will bring a wife with you as you were 
prevented from going to P— as soon as you wished 3*011 
have had fine time to beat about in Virginia. Get one 
with a younger Sister and bring her out for 
Yr Affectionate Friend 

Hbl Sevt 

John Graham. 

I have been husking corn until my Fingers are too 
stiff to write even with a Good Pen & Ink at present I 
have very bad of both and am in great haste. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Shepherdsto wn Novr 24th 17'.»7. 
] )> ar Sir: — I yesterday reed your esteemed favour 
of the 13th instant informing me of the reception of 
mine of the 29th of October. I wrote you a few days 
since by my friend Genl Darke and expected he would 
have found you in richmond but am sorry to find he will 
not as I hud requested him to call on you and deliver a 
verba! message and know lie wished and expected to 
see you. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 135 

I expected when I last saw you that my family 
would have increased before the 15th of October but 
was disappointed. Mrs. Worthington had a daughter 
on Sunday last and is very unwell so that I cannot with 
any degree of propriety leave home otherwise I would 
immediately set out for richmond and see Mr. Harris re- 
specting his land and not impose on your goodness by 
accepting your kind offer to contract with him for me. 
Three dollars per acre is high indeed but as I am deter- 
mined to buy no more than that tract of land (Mr. Har- 
ris's) at present and as it joins me I am willing to give 
that price. I think you mention that one half must be 
paid in a short time and that 9 or 12 months will be 
given for the remainder. If you will my good sir please 
make a contract for me you may depend every article 
shall be strictly complied with on my part and as I men 
tioned to you in my last I am willing to give any price 
you may think proper to agree on and wish you to make 
the purchase for me if possible and I will if ever in my 
power repay the favour done me. Westfall has re- 
turned to this Country and in consequence of my 
declining to take his lands he offers the whole of, 
them for sale — You expressed a desire to own that 
tract which joins yours on the North fork of Paint 
creek. I can purchase that singlely for you if you 
want it, he the other day offered it to me for 12/ pr 
acre and I think he will take less as I declined purchas- 
ing at that price and no person in this country knows 
the situation of any of his lands myself excepted. "Will 
you signify your wishes to me in your next on this sub- 
ject. I hope you have not suffered any inconvenience 



136 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

from my not paying yon the money cine yon. Can yon 
not take Shepherdstown in your rout to Phila. Leave 
your Horses at my house and take the stage from here 
and when you return your horses will be fresh and ready 
to perform your western journey and shall cost you 
nothing. I am obliged to go to Philadelphia in Deer 
and will accompany you from this place — will you please 
put out of the payment of the first moiety to Mr. Harris 
untill the 20th of J any or the first of Feby — I have 
wrote to Chas. Lee on the subject of establishing the 
road from wheeling to limestone as post-road and have 
received his answer wish to be in Philadelphia at the 
same time you are think this business may be effected 
and now is our time to obtain by petition to Congress 
land or property for the purpose of supporting an uni- 
versity hereafter. The plan you mention I think an ex- 
cellent one and hope no pains will be spared to effect 
it — If we petition and gain nothing we will not be the 
loosers thereby and should the petition be granted the 
advantages resulting therefrom will be great — I am 
Happy to hear that the storm which threatened the 
disolution of the french republic is blown over thus far 
without bloodshed. I take it for granted that this is 
the last struggle of the royalists — Should the three di- 
rectors be acting from pure principles and harmonize 
the republic in a proper manner their names deserve to 
be perpetuated whilst time lasts — I suspect History does 
not exhibit such a circumstance. 

I hope you will come by this place 'tis very little 
out of your way we shall be happy to see you. Please 
write me as soon as you can. I shall expect you will 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 137 

make the purchase for me and prepare Acordingly 
I am Dr Sr with Esteem & respect Sincerely yours 

T. WORTHINGTON. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Shepherdstown Nov.r 29th 1797 
D. Sir: — I wrote you a few days since but meeting 
with a safe and speedy opportunity I again write you 
fearing my last may not have met with so speedy a con- 
veyance as I could wish — I mentioned in my last that 
Mrs Worthington was extremely unwell otherwise I 
would have been in richmond on the 1st of Deer — You 
were so kind as offer to contract with Mr. Harris for me. 
I must accept your kind offer and hope I shall have it in 
my power to make a return of the many kindnesses I 
have reed of you. You mention that the land can not 
be had for less than 18/ One half shortly and 12 months 
for the other please give that price and I will pay within 
00 days (less if necessary) the sum you may contract for 
without fail — I do not intend to purchase any more land 
(Mr. Harris's excepted) for sometime to come and wish 
you my good friend to secure it for me if possible should 
you find it necessary to give as high as 24/ pr acre, I 
will take it this is between ourselves and I rest satisfied 
that you will get it as low as you can — Will you not 
take Shepherdstown in your rout to Richmond I shall 
be happy to see you and will accompany you to Phila- 
delphia by way of the stage, your Horses shall be well 
taken care of at my House — I yesterday seen a man 
immediately from Massieville who tells me that 70 fam- 
ilies have removed to that town and its vicinity since 



138 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

we left it — do you wish to purchase Gatts laud winch 
joins you on the N fork of Paint creek I can get it for 
10/ or 12/ — Will you be so kind as write me as soon as 
possible 

I am Dr Sir with respect and esteem your Hble St 

T. WORTHINGTON. 

Dr. Tiffin's compliments to you. 

1ST. B. I this day have been in company with Genl 
Mason in Martinsburg he is willing to exchange his part 
of his military lands for my Berkeley Count}' lands he 
tells me you did not call on him will you please give me 
your advice on this subject in your next — he Genl 
Mason starts in about ten days from this time to Phil'a. 

Yours sincerely 

T. W. 

A. S. St. Clair to Nathaniel Massie and others. 

Cincinnati 29th June 1798 
Gentlemen : — I have received authentic information 
of a transaction of yours, in your character of Magis- 
trates of the County of Adams, and holding the Courts 
for that County, which has, indeed, astonished me : — It 
is, that you have taken it upon yourselves to remove the 
Courts from Adams- Ville, the place appointed for their 
sessions b}^ proper authority, to some other part of the 
County, contrary to every principle of good order. 

The Power of fixing the places where the Courts 
are to be held, in every County, is exclusively in the 
Governor: for it is an exercise of executive authority 
of which no other person or Persons is or are legally 
capable ; and it is important to the People that the 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 139 

Places, where they have been appointed to be held, 
should not be subject to wanton change. When People 
lay out their money in improving county Towns, it is 
in cofidence of their stability, and when the Courts are 
removed from those Towns their importance is lost, and 
the property of the adventurers sink with it and it is to 
them a real breach of public faith. Adams- Ville was 
declared by Proclamation to be the place where the 
Courts for the County should be holden, and an attempt 
to remove them was a most unwarrantable assumption 
of Power, and contempt of authority, by the Justices, 
which might subject them to prosecution. I am willing 
however to believe that it did not proceed from that 
source, but from a misapprehension of the Law, and of 
their own Powers. 

By the 2d Session of the Act, entitled " an act 
directing the building and establishing a Court House, 
Jail &c in every County passed at Cincinnati the first of 
August 1792 " it is enacted that " every Court House 
and Jail to be erected as aforesaid shall be formed of 
such materials and to such dimensions, and on such 
Plans as shall be directed by the Judges of the Court of 
Common Pleas or a majority of them in each County 
who are hereby authorized to plan and project the same, 
and to accept as a Gift, or to purchase for the use of the 
County so much ground as they may judge convenient 
and necessary whereon to build all & any of the struc- 
tures aforesaid. You will be pleased to observe Gentle- 
men, the Act is silent as to the power of appointing the 
Place where the Courts are to be held, and the power of 
the Judges is confined to the planning and projecting 
9 



140 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

the buildings, and accepting as a Gift, or purchasing, 
ground whereon to erect them, and it is a fair and clear 
implication that the ground must be accepted or pur- 
chased in the place where the sessions of the Courts had 
been previously fixed, and that is always prior to, or 
coeval with, the appointment of those Judges. It is a 
maxim that a power by Grant cannot be extended to 
anything which lies out of the Grant; and the shadow 
of a power to fix the place where the Courts are to be 
held is surely not within a Grant to direct the size, the 
figure and the materials of the public-buildings. 

A Law was passed at Cincinnati on the 6th Novem- 
ber 1790 whereby the Governor was directed, in every 
new County, to be hereafter erected " to ascertain and 
specify and publish by Proclamation on what days in 
the year and the place and places in such new Counties 
where the Courts of common pleas and also the Courts 
of general quarter sessions of the Peace shall respectively 
be opened and held in each and every year." That Law 
has been repealed ; but it gave no new Power to the 
Governor, and was merely in affirmance of the constant 
Practice, and to render the places more generally known 
than the commission to the Court would effect — Were it 
still in force, it would be clearly explanatory of that 
part of the before recited clause of the Law of 1790 
(and passed before it) which gives power to the Judges 
of the Court of common Pleas to accept or purchase 
Lands whereon to erect the public buildings — They 
were to accept or purchase them -where the Courts were 
appointed to be held. The Pow T er of the Governor to 
lay out Counties and to fix the places where the Courts 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 141 

are to be held, which is incident to it, stands upon the 
Ordinance for the Government — of the Territory and 
not upon any Law adopted in pursuance of it. 

It appears to me, Gentlemen, that very proper steps 
were taken by the Secretary, in whom the powers of the 
Governor were then vested, to ascertain a proper place 
for the sessions of the Courts in the county of Adams, 
and the Proclamation by which lie declared it was like- 
wise proper, on account of more general notoriety, tho 
not necessary: should, however, notwithstanding the 
pains he took, the place he found to be an improper one, 
it may yet be remedied, as no private buildings, I be- 
lieve, have yet been erected there in consequence of the 
Measure: — but not in the manner, Gentlemen, you have 
thought proper to adopt. If the people of the County 
represent the matter to me in that light, — I shall cer- 
tainl\ r take it into consideration, and they will always 
line! me ready to listen to their reasonable requests, and 
to comply with them so far as they comport with my 
duty and the public Good. In the situation of a County 
Town a Governor can have no private interests of his 
own to serve, but it is very possible that even a majority 
of the Persons who may have been appointed Justices 
may have such Interests, and be disposed to prefer them 
to those of the public at large; and, where there are 
conflicting opinions on the subject, investigation and de- 
liberation are necessary. 

I have been farther informed, Gentlemen, that you 
are proceeding to erect the necessary public buildings at 
the place to which you have attempted to transfer the 
Courts. I presume, you will see the impropriety of such 



142 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

proceedings, and will arrest them. But, I think it 
proper to inform you that, I have prohibited the Treas- 
urer to accept any Orders of yours or pay out any Mon- 
ies of the County upon them, for that purpose. 
I have the honor to be 

Gentlemen 

Your obedient Servant 

Ak. S. Clair — 
Colonel Massie and the other Justices of the Courts 
of Common Pleas and general Quarter Session of the 
Peace for the County of Adams. — 

Nathaniel Massie to John Graham. 

Manchester 13th July 1798 
Dear Sir: — I have sold since my return to this coun- 
try our tract of land in the name of William Reynolds 
on three mile creek at three dollars per acre, one half 
paid immediately the remainder to be paid in Twelve 
months, also the five hundred acre tract on the Scioto 
purchased of Pekering & Hodgdon at the same price 
and payments. I find the demand for land not quite so 
great as I expected, it may however be owing in a great 
measure to the season of the year, early in the Spring or 
late in the fall is the seasons for selling of land. I shall 
endeavor to procure a bill in Phila. as soon as possible to 
remit you the amount of these sales and any other that 
I ma)' make. I am told that some of the United States 
agents will be down shortly from Pittsburg and will 
want specie for drafts on the Treasury of the United 
States. I have a prospect of selling Tibbs tract, and the 
300 acres on the Scioto for which I have had some offers 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 143 

but the payments was not such as I liked, I fear it will 
be difficult to raise money on our back lands without 
making a sacrifice. The lands on the Scioto, Ohio, or 
any land contiguous to settlements are the only lands that 
will sell to an advantage. The value of the lands and 
their ready sale depends entirely on the advancements 
of settlements, towards the approach of fall I am in 
hopes it may produce more application. I have not 
been down at the office since my return but expect to 
set off in about ten days. The enclosed land law adopted 
in this Territory will produce new attention to land, 
There is another law entitled " a law establishing of a 
Registers office which is connected with this it recpuires 
all land to be listed with the Register under penalty of 
incurring thrible taxes by the first of December a copy 
I will get printed and enclose to you. 
I am Pear Sir 

Your Ob. Servant 

Nath.l Massie. 

f Governor St. Clair to Nathaniel Massit and Benjamin 

Goodin. 

Cincinnati, 23d Jul, 1798. 
Gentlemen : — Your letter of the 11th instant was de- 
livered to me yesterday, and in reply to it I have to 
observe that you say "the court (meaning the court of 
common pleas for the county of Adams) at their last 
term, having taken up the business for erecting a jail, 
proceeded to plan and project the same, the attention of 
the court was naturally led to fix upon a piece of ground 
for that purpose.'' The inference is just, and, had the 



144 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

court confined themselves to fixing upon the most proper 
piece of ground whereon to place it and the place where 
the courts were by proper authority appointed to be 
held, and accepted as a gift, or purchased the same for 
the use of the county, they would have acted with pro- 
priety, consistently with their powers, and agreeably to 
law. I admit, however, that the place where they had 
been fixed, being disputed property, and a suit depend- 
ing, is a good objection to it, and, consequently, to the 
erecting the buildings there : because, though the person 
in possession (by whatever title he was in) had consented 
to their being erected, should he be defeated in. the 
action, it would be in the opinion of the person recover- 
ing to confirm the ground on which the building stood 
to the county, or to convert them to his own use. Still, 
that circumstance should have been represented to the 
executive, and, if it had been represented, I presume it 
would have had due weight; with me it would have 
been conclusive. But the objection, strong as it is, does 
in no manner justify the removal of the sittings of the 
("iiit to any other place by a majority of the court of 
common pleas, to do which they had no authority, either 
by law or custom. 

There are but two ways in which the courts of com- 
mon pleas could have acquired power (to) fix or alter 
the places of their sessions (tor it surely is not incident 
to them as courts), to-wit: either by law or by their 
commissions. But it has not been given to them by 
law, and the commissions only empower them " to hold 
pleas of assize, scire facias and replevins, and to hear 
and determine all and all manner of pleas, actions, and 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 145 

suite and causes, civil, personal, real and mixed, accord- 
ing 1 to law. The law which gives any agency to those 
courts in the matter of places where the courts were to 
be held, respects the mode and manner of the public 
buildings only, at the same time that it empowers them 
to accept as a gift, of to purchase for the use of the 
counties a piece of ground whereupon to erect them, and 
this involves the right of judging of the fitness of the 
piece of ground for the purpose, and no more. A con- 
sistent meaning and explanation is to be given to every 
law, and clause of ;i law, if it will admit of it. But it 
would be absurd that the executive should fix the places 
for the courts in the counties respectively, and that the 
courts of common pleas should have the power to accept 
or to purchase grounds and to erect the public buildings 
on them at other places. The law authorizing the Gov- 
ernor to ascertain the times and places at which the 
courts were to be held in any new counties that might 
be erected, passed the 6th November, 1790, was, as I had 
the honor to observe in a former letter, in affirmance of 
what had been the constant practice, and it confined the 
Executive to a like practice in future. 

The law of the 1st August, 1792, only provided for 
a case not provided for before, to-wit : the erecting the 
necessary public buildings, the effecting of which was 
laid upon the courts of common pleas, but did not re- 
peal or alter the law of November, 1790. They both 
stood together (and stood well together) for the last, 
you will please to observe, was not repealed until the 
14th July, 1795. Until that time the Governor's power, 
by law, to fix the places for the services of the courts 



146 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

still existed. At that time, his authority in the case, by 
law, ceased to exist, and was not vested anywhere else. 
But how does the law now stand? is the question. The 
courts of common pleas have still all the power respect- 
ing the public buildings they ever had, to-wit : to plan 
and project them ; to determine the materials of which 
they shall be constructed ; to accept of or to purchase 
ground whereon to erect them, at the places that had 
been previously fixed by the Governor, and to contract 
for the execution of them, and no more. As to the rest, 
gentlemen, you have yourselves furnished the answer, 
for you observe that " the Ordinance is totally silent as 
to the Governor's power of fixing the places where the 
courts are to be held ; the Ordinance being silent on that 
subject, there can be no doubt but the power must be 
vested in the Executive until otherwise provided by the 
legislature." If the law, then, of November, 1790, had 
made a different deposit of the power, which it did not, 
the law of July, 1795, repealing that law, restored it to 
where it was ; for it is a maxim that a law repealing a 
law revives the antecedent law. It is clear, then, from 
your own reasoning, that the power to ascertain and fix 
the times and places for the sessions of the courts is in 
the Executive, and nowhere else. 

I did suppose, gentlemen, that it was upon the sec- 
ond section of the law directing the erecting of court- 
houses, etc., that the court of common pleas of the 
county of Adams had founded their opinion " that they 
had the right of judging of the propriety of the spot 
whereon to erect the public buildings within the 
comity ; " but it is evidently an unfounded opinion ; and 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 147 

it is easy to see inconveniences that might follow from 
such a right in the courts; for it is only to suppose a 
change in the members and a preponderancy of opinion 
in a majority in favor of other places than those chosen, 
either by the Governor, or their predecessors, and the 
places may be changed from time to time, ad infinitum, 
with the changes that must necessarily happen upon the 
benches ; and something like this has actually happened 
in the neighboring State, where the court of quarter 
sessions have power, by law, to fix the place of their sit- 
tings; and it is, I believe, the only State in America 
where these or any courts have that power. 

The injury that arises from the want of good and 
sufficient jails, both to the public and to the inhabitants 
of the several counties, I am very sensible of. I believe 
the law making the counties answerable for escapes, to 
be a very bad one ; because it favors negligence in the 
sheriffs, and lays a burden on the people the}' ought not 
to be charged with : and, if I have influence enough 
with the legislature, at their next session, it will be re- 
pealed. 

After all, gentlemen, I have no predilection for 
Adamsville, and, with the disadvantages you have stated, 
it is certainly an improper place for the county-town, 
though well enough as to situation with respect to the 
county at large, and the divisions of it that must take 
place in future. When new counties are laid out, they 
are generally, from necessity, very large ; and the places 
where the courts are fixed, in the first instance, and the 
public buildings, of course, erected, should be relative 
to that part which will probably remain together after 



148 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

those divisions rather than the present circumstances; 
that the public buildings may be still in a suitable situ- 
ation, otherwise a lasting injury might be done for the 
sake of a temporary convenience. If I am rightly in- 
formed, the objections to Adamsville, from the difficulty 
of access in high waters, apply equally to Manchester: 
but it is my intention to visit Adams county immedi- 
ately after the August court here, and it will be very 
grateful to me to do in respect to the county-town what 
may be desirable at present and permanently useful. I 
have the honor respectfully to be etc. 

John Graham /<> Nathaniel Massie. 

On the banck of Little Sandy 

May 29th 1799— 

Dear Sir : — I arrived at this place (which is about 
half way from the mouth of the Creek to the Licks) the 
evening before the last; we were stopecl here by the 
want of water which on the ripples was too shallow for 
the keel boat — I am now getting on the Kettles &c in a 
perogue & two small canoes I hope to get them all up in 
four or five days at farthest — 

Mr. Coonse the Man who has had a furnace at- the 
Lick for some time & who when I was last up agreed to 
come under my claim has changed his mind since & 
again reverted to Coleman who has posted up a notice 
forwarning me or any person under me from Sittling at 
the Lick; I do not regard this, for at that time our Man- 
ager was fixed in a House, at the very spot which I had 
erected more than twelve months ago and have been in 
possession of ever since — The man tells me that Cole- 



The Lift of Nathaniel Massie. 149 

man tryecl to bribe him to give up to him — Colo .John- 
ston has been here, but went off in a few days — Mr. 
Grayson tells me he was anxious to enter into an accom- 
modation with him ; they are to meet' at the District 
Court in Washing-ton I wish yon could be there & I will 
exert myself to have things fixed here & be down my- 
self, if not I will write to you I think it prudent to make 
some arraignment either with Johnston or Nicholas & 
then will be the time to do it, as they will both be at the 
I !ourt — 

P. S. Coonse does not pretend to prevent us from 
going to work, so far from it that lie lent me his Canoe 
to bring up our things; he tells me he believes our 
claim to be the best, but considers himself bound bj his 
contract with Coleman not being certain whether you 
would be at Home — I have drawn on Mr. Vertner for 
the Hire of the boatmen say 2 L 8 s cash — exclusive of 
an order on myself in favour of Stanton the owner of 
the Boat for five or six pounds which he has directions 
to present to Mr. Vertner if you are not at Home — 

Yrs Sincerely, 

Jno Graham — 

John Graham to Nathaniel Massie. 

Salt Lick ox Little Saxdy 

6th Jum 99 
Dear Sir: — I wrote you by the Boatmen that Mr. 
Koonse (the man who first began to make Salt at 
this place) had again joined himself with Coleman who 
pretends to have a claim here under a Survey of Rich 
Ridgslys, the Entry of which was made after our Snr- 



150 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

vey; this claim gave me no uneasiness, but I thought it 
best to come to some kind of a compromise with Koonse 
and Kites least they might join themselves with Powell 
if they did so thought it might give me a good deal of 
trouble to oust them. I wish to act against Powell al- 
together on the defensive. Under these impressions I 
have agreed to let them in for one sixth part of 6000 
acres, upon their relinquishing to me full and entire pos- 
session and upon their paying me 500 Dollars in twelve 
months & 500 Dollars in two years. They are to bear 
their proportional part of all Expences in defending our 
claim — The other participants of the contract I shall 
explain to you when we meet which I hope will be dur- 
ing the District Court in Washington, I wait merely to 
see the works set a going & if no bad weather intervenes 
I hope to see about half our Kettles under way on Mon- 
day ; Should things so happen that I cannot get down I 
wish you would join with Colo Orr & Mr. Grayson & 
give to Colo Nicholas a handsome retaining fee ; their 
claim stands upon the same Basis that ours does so that 
the defence of the one will be the defence of the other. 
I am particularly anxious to get Nicholas, for depend 
upon it this property is very valuable— The People who 
have been used to this water say they can make 70 or 
80 Bushels of Salt a week with the number of Kettles 
which we have got, our Manager says he will not posi- 
tively promise more than 50 which lie thinks can easily 
be made — 

With great regards I am Dear Sir 

Yr Most Hble Sevt 

John Graham 



The Life of Nathaniel Massit . 151 



Israel Donalson to Nathaniel Massie. 

Manchester, 20th Octr 1799 
Dear Sir: — With pleasure I received your favour 
pr Mr Kirker the connection you are wanting will be 
handed by Mr Kerr or a sort of abstract though I have 
not seen it — Your Ideas in regard to our business I 
hope are well founded, and in your opinion I am sure 
they are, yet I cant help thinking there is room for 
doubts Altho it will be a glaring piece of conduct in 
the Governor, but from past experience we cannot count 
with certainty on anything from that source. 

At present I have no peculiar information to com- 
municate to you 

I am Dear Sir with Sentiments of Esteem 
Yours &c 

Israel Donalsox 

Johit (iridium to Nathaniel Massie. 

Washixotox Novr 28th 99. 
Dear Massie: I have been down from Sandy two or 
three weeks: before I left that I rented out the Licks 
for 400 Bushells of Salt payable quarterly. I have also 
rented Water about a quarter of a mile above for 
Eighty Kettles at 200 Bushells of Salt— I hear nothing 
of Hite if he will let us alone I think we shall do 
pretty well for there is more Water to be had — I have 
sold your Oxen for what they cost payable in Salt. — 
The Product of our works this Summer has been incon- 
siderable I doubt we shall not have more than enough 



152 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

to pay expenses — I have left some with your Brother, 
which I had packed to the mouth of Sandy. 

Will you be at home before you go to Lexington I 
want much to see you & should be glad to know — You 
certainly are much engaged in settling the affairs of the 
nation, as you remain so closely in Cincinnati, when you 
are so strongly tempted to leave it. I have just received 
a Letter from George in which he desires me to present 
to you his Compliments of congratulation. 
Yrs. very Sincerely, 

John Graham. 

David Walker to Nathaniel Massie. 

Jessamine 28th Decern her 1799. 

Dr Colo: — I gave Lucas Sulevant a power of At- 
torney to draw my Extra bounty Land warrant about 
eighteen months passed, if you know anything of the 
man be pleased to tell me what probability I have to 
calculate on his discharging his trust properly. I have 
never heard of him since I executed the power to him — 
tell me my friend how I am to proceed with my plats 
and certificates to obtain patents and the sum necessary 
to be deposited with each 1000 Acres plat and certificate 
when delivered in the office — have you been able to 
effect the sale of the Siotho land for me, if not can you 
recommend me to a purchaser, for altho I am now per- 
fectly convinced that ZohefFs claim is not equal to mine, 
yet would I cheerfully sell at quarter price rather than 
engage in a Law suit — I have plat and certificate of that 
Darbey's Creek survey and if I could sell would give 

thereon — Now my friend let me wish that your 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 153 

Ideas of connubial enjoyments may be truly extravagant, 
and that in reality your happiness may exceed them — 
for by the lord if you make a husband deserving the 
girl you are about to take you'll be full up to the highest 
ground of Bliss on this side of the Elysian plains. 
Your friend 

David Walker. 
Colo. Massie. 

J. Brown to Nathaniel Massie. 

Phila 19th 17!'!' 
Dear Sir: — This letter I expect will be handed to 
you by Mr. Michael Baldwin a young Gentleman from 
the State of Connecticut who has it in contemplation to 
establish himself in the Territory N". W. of the Ohio 
should he meet with due encouragement. He is Brother 
to the Honble Mr. Baldwin Member of Congress from 
the State of Georgia with whose character you are well 
acquainted, & having finished a liberal course of Educa- 
tion, & obtained a license to practice the Law in the 
Courts of Connecticut he goes to your Country with in- 
tention to prosecute his profession. Having great confi- 
dence in the information I have reed respecting his 
Talents, good Morals, & good disposition I with pleasure 
recommend him to your notice & friendly attentions, & 
will acknowledge any civilities you may render him as 
favors conferred upon 

Dear Sir 

Yo Mo Ob Sevt 

J. Brown 
Colo !N\ Massie 



154 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 



Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Chillicothe {Dec.) 27th 1799 
Dear Sir: — I reed your favours by Mr. Kerr with 
their Inclosures and will attend to them. Mr. Kerr told 
me he would leave town last evening otherwise I would 
have given you a lengthy letter in detail of circumstances 
which took place after your departure. I suppose that 
you will be informed by Mr. D — will only therefore re- 
mark that I feel more dissatisfied at our present Govern- 
ment than I supposed I ever should. You have no 
doubt before now seen the Governors reasons for his 
Veto on 11 of our Laws and am clear you will not be 
satisfied with them — I wish to make every effort in my 
power to get the Territory devided into two Districts at 
the present session of Congress and if you think with 
me on this subject I wish you to write to your friends in 
Congress and thereby aid my efforts. The Gov.r has 
positively declared that he intends serving no longer 
than the next session of Congress and if a division of 
the territory was to take plaee I am convinced the Leg- 
islature would sit in Chillicothe next winter — I write 
you in haste will you let me hear from and have your 
Ideas on this subject — I wish you a happy matrimonial 
voyage sincerely— .The lotts I wish eonveyed are Inn lott 
No — and Out lott No — originally the property of 
pennyweight also (3 outlotts purchased of yourself the 
Numbers you will recollect — I should be thankful if you 
would forward the deed so soon as you get Madam at 
home and have made other necessary arrangements — I 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 155 

leave on Monday next. Our court is now sitting and 

will be a lengthy one I am Sir with much Esteem 

respectfully 

Your Obt St 

T. WoRTHINGTON. 

William H. Harrison to Nathaniel Massie. 

Philadelphia 17th Jany 1800 
My dear Sir : — Before this reaches you, you will no 
doubt have exchanged the solitary life of a batchelor 
for the soft silken bands of Hymen in other words — I 
suppose at this very hour (for it is eleven oclock P. M.) 
you are locked in the arms of the charming Susan — 
what a repast for a susseptable mind ! feast my dear sir 
with a keen appetite but recollect that one — too many 
now may deprive you of a great many hereafter. 

On the first meeting of congress the Political cam- 
paign promised to be a very pacific one — but the Reso- 
lution introduced by Mr. Xicholas for disbanding the 
army (or a large part of it) called up all the warmth of 
the parties — This appeared to me to be a very foolish 
measure as we shall shortly hear wheather our Envoys 
to France will succeed in the objects of their mission — 
Should they succeed the Reduction of the Army to a 
few Regiments will follow without a dissenting voice — 
the resolution was lost 38 to 59 — A few nights ago Mr. 
J. Randolph a member from Virginia was insulted in the 
Theater by some young officers of Marine, this was oc- 
casioned by Mr Randolph having applied the terms 
mercenary's & vagabonds to the army in one of his 
10 



156 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

speeches in the house of Representatives — The affair is 
now before a Committee of Priviledges & will I fear 
occasion much trouble and loss of time — Soon after the 
commencement of Congress in the house of Representa- 
tives I introduced a Resolution for reforming the Su- 
preme Court of the Territory by ading three more 
Judges & reported a bill for that purpose — this bill has 
been twice before a Committee of the whole house but 
I have not yet been able to get it through yet awhile — I 
do not know but I shall move in a day or two to have it 
recommitted to a select committee to consider the pro- 
priety of errecting that portion of our Territory which 
lies below the line to be drawn from the mouth of the 
Great Miami North into a separate Government — this 
Yanderbergh informs me will be very agreeable to the 
people below & can do no injury to those above but on 
the Contrary will be an advantage. 

You know that Byrd is the Secret'y of the Terri- 
tory I suppose — Give }^our Susan a kiss for her old 
friend & neighbor and make Mrs. Harrison best respects 
to all the family together with those of your friend — 

Wm II. Harrison. 
Nathaniel Massie esqr. 

James Smith to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati 17th March 1800. 

Dear Sir: — Yours of the 4th Instant came to hand 

by this days Mail, wishing information in the suit 

against Simon Kenton wherein you were security, the 

debt I am informed is paid, and I now hold an exe- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. ■ 157 

cution in my hands for the costs returnable to this 
term. 

I have seen Kenton a short time ago on the business 
he promises to pay the costs next week which when he 
dos I will give you information. 

I am with Esteem your verry 
Humble Servt 

James Smith 

B. K. Meade to Nathaniel Massie. 

April 22d 1800. 
Dear Sir: — The liberty of an entire stranger which 
I now take I flatter myself will be my excuse when I 
inform you that the information of your marriage to 
one of my nieces, will in my opinion, & earnest desire, 
produce an intimacy between us although we may not 
be gratified by a personal acquaintance, which however 
I will hope for, should your business bring you to this part 
of our country, sooner or later. It is my inclination & in- 
terest with my large family & small fortune, to have vis- 
ited my military lands in your quarter this summer, but 
this depended upon my gouty habit, & more especially on 
the health of a very indisposed & valuable wife — the 
trip too would have been the more pleasing to me from 
the idea of seeing a Brother whom I love. I have long ago 
heard of your name — from my neighbour Maj'r Massie, 
& must confess that your acquaintance in my Brothers 
family afforded me joy — Sukey is a favorite of mine, 
& I cannot doubt but that she possesses all the necessary 
qualities both by nature and her own good sense and 
study to render you happy by meriting the appellation 



158 • The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

of an amiable wife. Sensible of the blessing of domes- 
tic life, I do most sincerely wish you both a large share 
& of it. My wife & children often talk of my 

Brother & his family — Sukey is now yonrs, & you hers fix' (J 
at your own abode, you will both accept our purest love 

6 good wishes. Many months ago I had a letter writ- 
the to my brother, but opportunities are rare; last week 
Colo. Morgan was so kind as to let me know of his 
trip to the westward, that he knew you both, with an 
offer to be the bearer of letters. I am now to conclude, 
as I have said without the least acquaintance, or cere- 
mony, to request your assistance, should it not be attended 
with too much trouble on your part. 

My military claim consists of 6 surveys of 1000 
Acres each in your fertile country, but whether I have 
had justice done me as to the quality of the land, or not 
is unknown to me — I hope I am fortunate, as I have 

7 children to provide for. Mr. I. Obannon assur'd 
me that the land was excellent — I paid him & Colo 
Anderson about L 100 for locating &c, & no one I believe 
paid more, or more punctually, which has induced me 
to suppose my land of the first quality. The informa- 
tion obtained from Mr. Obannon, when he was here, was 
that it lay 6 or 7 miles from the Ohio, and besides its 
being rich, that it was all well watered, with 2 or 3 
fine mill streams, as you will see by the inclosed plats, 
which accompany extracts of the patents as a guide to 
find the different surveys more readily — My object is 
to know where the land lies with certainty, & as there 
must necessarily be a tax laid to support the govern- 
ment, to get at least as much of it rented out as will 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 159 

pay the tax ; but at any rate, not to suffer any to be 

sold for payment of the taxes, for which reason I am to 

request the favor of you, in case the lands will not rent 

for the amount of the taxes, that you will give me 

notice to forward you the amount in time as I would by 

no means be in arrears. Should the business I have 

boldly yentur'd to beg your attention to, give you too 

much trouble, I request you to recommend some person 

to me, on whom I can rely, that will do it with fidelity 

on commission. My gouty fingers are pretty well tired 

with writing a longer letter than I am accustomed to, 

the only addition then shall be a repitition of our purest 

love that I should be happy in a personal knowledge of 

you & that I am with my best wishes & earnest regard 

Yr affectionate hum St. 

R Iv Meade 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

AValnut Grove Aug Uth 1800 
Dear Sir: — I received a Letter a few days since 
from Major Shepherd who informs me that he had reed 
your letter and that he could not accede to any of the 
propositions you had made him and mentions that if you 
could not suit Mr. Swearengen in lands or otherwise 
comply with the proposition he made you he felt inclined 
to keep his land. At his request I give you this in- 
formation. . 

I wish you could have made it convenient to come 
as far as this place when you were at the falls of paint 
creek — I wish much to see you and regret you are not a 
resident at the falls. I can give you no news worth}' 



160 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

your attention — The people here are so far with some 
exceptions very healthy indeed none are attacked with 
the ague except a few of those who have settled here 
this spring — Last year those who were attacked with it 
were taken before this time — I hope we shall soon be 
able to contradict the report entirely of the bad health 
of the people residing here ray family are in perfect 
health as well my neighbours. A report is current here 
that Mr. Byrd is afraid of endangering his health by re- 
moving to this place. I am convinced if he has health 
at Cincinati he will have it in Chillicothe. 

Nathan Corry called on me whilst I am writing and 
enforms me that you have a Judgment against him and 
that this property will be sold unless you give him a little 
time, he has offered property to me for the express pur- 
pose of paying you. Money is very scarce here indeed 
at his request I mention this to you. He says he can 
certainly pay you in 2 or 3 months. I reed a few days 
since a Letter from W. H. Harrison he was in richmond 
and informs me he has accepted the government of the 
Indiana Territory and that he would be in Chillicothe at 
the meeting of the Legislature. 

Will you write me by Mr. Swearengen and say 
whether you can (if circumstances appear favourable) 
get your own approbation to become a candidate for 
congress — Major L — Has offered long since but it is im- 
possible almost that he can be elected — I am told Mr. J. 
Burnet will not be a candidate — A. St. Clair will of 
course and God forbid that he should be elected. I in- 
close you herewith a very extraordinary publication that 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 161 

has appeared here against your good friend Doctor 
Buel — Mr. John McCoy wishes to get a small piece of 
Land of your tract to make his even it will not injure 
yours. Will you please let me know if he can get it and 
at what price. I rather promised he should have it 
when I laid his out and as it will do you no injury I 
should be well pleased 3^011 would let him have it. 

I inclose the notes of the survey made between 
porter and Covington. Please so arrange the business 
that Mr. Swearingen can get the plat and survey. 
I am Sir yo urs respectfully 

T. WORTHINGTON. 

Charles W. Byrd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati, The 18th of Aug. 1800. 

Dear Sir : — I have to acknowledge the receipt of 
your favor of the 6th Accept my thanks for your 
friendly proposition relative to my claim against Mr. 
Clay. The horses I gave up to release him were valued 
at $180. . . . 

Parson Smith (the Representative) requested me to 
acquaint you with the nature of a Petition handed about 
at this time in Cincinnati. — It is in substance, to peti- 
tion Congress, at the next session, to continue the old 
man in office, and to censure the Inhabitants of Ross 
for their misrepresentation of his conduct. Parson 
Smith has desired me also to inform you of a declara- 
tion made by our friend Harrison — that if his friends 
upon the Ohio and at Chillicothe should on his arrival 
express a wish for him to resign, that he will give up his 



162 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

new dignity of Governor in the Lower Territory. Be 
pleased to present my regards to Mrs. Massie &c. 
Your obliged humb. servt. 

Charles Willing Byrd. 
Colo. Massie 

Lexington 

Charles Willing Byrd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati The 20th. of August 1800 
Dear Sir: — Mr. Hunts impatience will not permit 
him to wait for an answer to my letter of the 18th ad- 
dressed to you by Post : and he sets out immediately for 
Lexington in pursuit of Clay or his property. As I ex- 
plained myself fully (in the letter referd to) upon this 
business, it will be unnecessary for me to add anything 
more on the subject, excepting only a request, that you 
will favor Mr. Hunt with any information with which 
you may be possessed respecting Mr. Clay's funds. 
Should the Politicians of Cincinnati fail, as I expect 
they will, in their attempt to get a Law enacted earl}' in 
the next session of our Legislature to remove the seat of 
Government to this place, I shall be glad to avail my- 
self of your proposal relative to the conveyance of my 
furniture to Chillicothe. McCullugh has contracted to 
deliver to your order at the time required two hundred 
of Sargents young fruit trees. He asked of me a 
quarter of a dollar per tree ; but I talked him down to 
six pence this currency. A few weeks ago the Governor 
dined with me, and at table your conduct with Arm- 
strong in Avery's tavern which was said to be on the 
evening when you left our house, was brought upon the 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 163 

carpet. One of his Excellency's Myrmidons who was 
present, represented your conduct on that occasion much 
to your discredit. He did it I suppose to ingratiate 
himself with the old gentleman, and being convinced 
that it was a misrepresentation I undertook without 
being acquainted with the merits of the question to con- 
tradict it. I wish you to acquaint me with the circum- 
stances, in order that I may contradict it more effectu- 
ally and particularly. 

I am yr. friend & ob. sevt. 

Charles Willing Byrd. 

Charles W. Byrd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati, September the 24th, 1800, 
Dear Sir: Can you inform me whether Michili- 
machinac is in the upper or lower Territoiy ? It is of 
importance that I should ascertain it before I proceed to 
take the Census in the County of Wayne : and I cannot 
procure at Cincinnati satisfactory information upon this 
subject. Perhaps you are acquainted with the game 
which the people of this place and Marietta are playing 
for the downfall of Chilicothe. It is this: — The Mem- 
bers of Hamilton are to unite witli the representatives 
of Washington in electing one of the Delegates from 
Muskingum to a seat in Congress. In return for this 
favor, — the members from the latter place are to give 
their influence to those of Hamilton in their endeavors 
to remove the seat of Government from Chilicothe to 
Cincinnati. They are then to play into each others 
hands; — the Delegate in Congress and the Governor are 
to use their joint influence to continue the old General 



164 The Life of Nathan iel Massle. 

in office : — to effect a second division of the Territory ; 
and — to procrastinate the formation of the District into 
a separate State as long as possible. The Governor has 
been absent for several weeks. Among other instances 
when the Seal was called for, the Court of Adams re- 
commended the appointment of a Magistrate in that 
County. When application was made for the Seal, 
Mrs. Dill, the Governors private Secretary, gave me to 
understand that his Excellency has carried it with him 
out of the Territory. Should this conduct be properly 
represented before the Senate, it would not I think 
operate much in his favor. 

I am Dear Sir yours &c. 

Charles Willing Byrd. 
Colo. Massie. 

near Lexington 
P. S. I believe this is the first Letter I ever wrote 
on politics. 

< harles W. Byr<l to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati, The 26th of Nov. 1800. 

Dear Sir: — Will yon inform me when in your opin- 
ion the Session will be closed? 

It may be necessary for me to be present before the 
house rises in order to receive the inrolled Bills &c. It 
is confidently asserted here that the Governor's term of 
service expires on the 9th of next month. If I believed 
this declaration, I would certainly go immediately to 
Chilicothe, with a view to act in the governors place 
and to enable the Legislature to continue in Session 
still later than the 9th as I suppose you would not wish 



The Life of Nathan id Massie. 165 

to rise so soon. But instead of giving credit to the re- 
port, I consider it as a trick practiced by the Governors 
friends to prevent Petitions from being forwarded against 
him. Because if this information gains ground, it will 
be thought by Judge Symmes and the people ineffectual 
to take an active part against his Excellency as the ap- 
pointment would be made before Letters, Remon- 
strances &c could arrive at the City of Washington. 
I am Dear Sir 

Your friend and obt. servt. 

Charles Willing Byrd. 
Colo. Massie 

Seat of Government. 

John C. Symmes to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati the 29th Decemr 1800. 

Dear Sir: — I am informed by John Smith Esqr 
that you have a number of charges to exhibit against 
Governor St. Clair, in case lie should be reappointed to 
the Government. I beg leave to observe that I have 
not a few which I mean to exhibit to the general gov- 
ernment in case of his succeeding again to the admin- 
istration of the government of the Territory 

If you can put so much confidence in me Sir, as to 
furnish me with a list of your complaints against him, 
and what the nature of the evidence may be, by which 
you mean to support the accusation in case of an im- 
peachment, I shall be much obliged to you and will 
give you my opinion on the subject, whether an im- 
peachment will lie on the charges you exhibit. 

I do not yet dispair, but we shall get well rid of him 



166 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

without any trouble, but in case of his reappointment, 
which god forbid, I intend to disclose all I know, or 
rather all I can recollect against him as a governor, 
which I think will shake if not overturn some of his 
future hopes — 

Pray Sir, honor me with a line before you set out 
for the City of Washington. 
With high respect 

I am Sir your obliged 

very humble Servant 

John C. Symmes. 
Col. Nat'h Massie. 

B. J. Meigs to Nathaniel Massie. 

Marietta, 15th January, 1801. 
Dear Sir: — We had a meeting of the Citizens of 
this Town on the 4th Inst, the subject of going into a 
State Government was taken up & discussed — a Com- 
mittee of five persons were chosen to report an address 
to the Citizens of this & the other Counties — the Citizens 
convened at the Court House agreeably to adjournment 
on Monda}^ last — an address was reported — it is lengthy 
and in the main well written, & utterly disclaims the 
Idea of going into a state Government ; But certain parts 
of it were very exceptionable to a number there present, 
which caused lengthy & animated debates — the ex- 
ceptionable parts are as nearly as I can recollect as fol- 
lows viz. " That designing Characters were aiming at 
self aggrandisement & would Sacrifice the rights & 
property of the citizens at the Shrine of private am- 
bition " " That the political Horizon is clothed in 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 167 

frowns, that the risque of a foreign war, can only be 
equaled by the danger of domestic tempests." 

These parts of the address were objected to by a 
number of persons, amongst them myself & Son, a long 
debate ensued on motion to strike them out — the argu- 
ments in favor of retaining them were clearly refuted : 
but the spirit of the times roused by the event of the 
late election had interwoven itself into the address, a 
plan where it ought not to have the remotest influence 
or effect. The address was therefore carried by a large 
majority except some small alterations, particularly the 
word Brittish was stricken out, and the word foreign 
substituted in lieu thereof. — In Justice to myself & Son 
& other friends, I think it my duty to make you this 
Statement as we utterly disclaim the illiberal & dangerous 
sentiments held up in those parts of the address above 
recited — I have wrote Colonel Worthington as I wish 
our friends not to entertain an Idea that we are capable 
of giving; credit to sentiments so illiberal & dangerous, 
so distrustful of our political affairs for I realy think 
that instead of Frowns, our political Horizon is Clothed 
in Smiles & that no domestic tempest threatens us. 

With respect to going into a state Government we 
all agree in opinion that it would be ill policy — If the 
Governors negative can be qualified, which will un- 
doubtedly be the case, our present System of Govern- 
ment cannot be oppressive in any respect — I sincerely 
hope that your Citizens will agree with us on this im- 
portant subject — to enter into a state Government would 
involve us in expenses beyond our power to support, 



168 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

many reasons might be addressed, they will occur to 
your mind as you reflect on the Subject. 

I am Sir with esteem & regard 

R. J. Meigs. 

Gen'l JST. Massie. 

B. K. Meade to Nathaniel Massie. 

10th March 1801 
Dear Sir: — The hope of seeing you according to 
your expectation last month is now banished from my 
mind ; I shall therefore seek some opportunity to offer 
you a few lines. 

I am now to thank you for the two letters I have got 
from you, & to return you my sincere acknowledgments 
for the friendly & useful services you are so well dis- 
posed to do me; having an acquaintance, but with few 
on your side of the river, I feel myself fortunate in your 
promise to settle my Land Tax, which I trust will not 
bring on you the least disappointment hereafter. Your 
accnt of the soil situation & health of my military prop- 
erty was pleasing to me ; as to the disposal of them by 
lease, although, I had in all probability, better be gov- 
erned by you, yet when I reflect on the different ages of 
my Sons, & that there is a probability of their settling 
in your part of the world, it would not be well to lease 
the whole of the lands for so long a term as 10 yrs, but 
4000 acres might go for that period according to your 
ideas of justice & propriety; the remaining 2000 on 
such terms as you please, not exceeding 5 years lease — 
I congratulate you on the birth of a Son, & sincerely 
hope you will experience much felicity in your offspring, 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 169 

& in the love friendship & utility, of my amiable niece. 
I should have deriv'd much satisfaction in seeing you 
here, from the many questions I should have asked re- 
specting my Brother his family ivc &c &c 

There is no important news of so late a date but 
what must have reach'd you before this — should there 
any occur before I find an opportunity to forward this — 
you shall have it, & only add the joint love of my family 
to mj r own for you & Sukey — 

Believe me Dr Sir with regard & affection yr friend. 

II K Meade 

Arthur St. (lair, Jr., to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati, March 23rd 1801 
Dear Sir: — I have taken the liberty of requesting 
your opinion upon the value of the lands as described 
by the enclosed certificate. 

Mr. Henry Purviance and Major Bellee have been 
for some time on the eve of a law suit respecting a claim 
which Mr. Purviance had against Major Bellee in set- 
tling his father's estate, but has eventually agreed to 
take lands in discharge of it; which lands the Major 
agreed to lease to the valuation of any two men I should 
appoint. I have therefore taken the liberty of request- 
ing vour iudo-ment on the case and shall write to Mr 
Carr on the same subject presuming you are better ac- 
quainted with the subject than any others I could men- 
tion. If you could enclose to me a certificate of your 
opinion it would confer an obligation on Sir 

Yours respectfully, 

Ar St Clair Junr. 



170 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

X. B. in that valuation I wish you to consider 
yourself in the situation of either buyer or seller. 

Charles Willing Byrd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati— May the 4th. 1801. 
Dear Sir: — On my return to Kentucky (about ten 
days ago) your Letter was delivered to me with an ac- 
count of McCullogh's conduct relative to the trees, which 
he |had contracted to send you at six pence per Scion. 
I have to lament that my absence from the Territory 
should have occasioned you any disappointment — I had 
deposited twenty dollars with Major Zeigler, and had 
given directions to Xed and McCullogb, to procure you 
the fruit if applications should be made for it previous 
to my return; and I had flattered myself that eventually 
there would have been no disappointment. My land- 
lord who received a severe rebuke from me for his breach 
of contract, says, that altho the agreement was such as I 
stated it to be, that nevertheless your neglect in not 
sending at the time appointed (during the Winter) left 
him at liberty to alter the price. As no future confi- 
dence can be reposed in him, it will not I conceive be 
expedient to engage with him any more. From Mr. 
Taylor I have received on your account two or three and 
twenty dollars — two of which were paid for Warfields 
advertisement, and the remainder shall be retained sub- 
ject to your order. Major Zeigler tells me that Mr. 
Campbell paid 12h cents per Scion for 100 trees — I sup- 
pose that he appropriated a part of the fifteen dollars, 
mentioned in your Letter, to that purpose, and that the 
balance has been returned to you. An Indented Serv- 



The Life of [ Nathaniel Massie. 171 

ant of yours (his name I think is Abraham) is here in 
pursuit of his freedom. His story is this — that by your 
threatening to sell him if he did not sign the indenture, 
and by other menaces he was compelled to subscribe it, 
and that as it was not a voluntary act, he ought to be 
emancipated by the Judiciary — Before my arrival Mont- 
gomery had hired him to Ruflin, and is of opinion that 
he will not attempt his escape, nevertheless I should im- 
mediately have committed him to jail, but the Prison is 
so insecure that it cannot be considered as a place of 
safety: I am therefore obliged to content myself with 
employing Spy's to watch over his conduct, until we can 
hear from you. 

I hope my Letter will find yourself, your wife, and 
your Jonathan in good health — Be pleased to present my 
Love to Suckey. 

I am Sir 

Yr. ob. servt. 

Charles Willing Byrd 
Colo. Massie. 

Charles Willing Byrd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati, May 11—1801. 
Dear Sir: — I had the pleasure to receive your Letter 
by Mr. Collins, and I give you my thanks for sending 
me the census of your County. The enumiration of the 
Inhabitants of the Territory, exclusive of Jefferson from 
which I have had no return, is as follows, — Hamilton 
14,691— Ross 8,520— Adams 3,432— Washington 5,427— 
Wayne 3,206— and Trumbull 1,303 ;— amounting in the 
11 



17- The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

whole, independent of the first mentioned County, to 
36,579. 

McCullogh's conduct has evinced a considerable de- 
gree of impertinence as well as a want of integrity; but 
as it is probable that you have received before this time 
my Letter b} 7 the Mail, wherein I made some remarks 
upon his and your Servant's behaviour, it will be unnec- 
essary to trouble you with any further observations upon 
this subject. 

Among other particulars you were informed of my 
having twenty or twenty one dollars of yours subject to 
your order: I am at a loss whether I ought to transmit 
it to you by Mr. Collins ; but I believe it will be proper 
for me to retain it in my hands until you may deem it 
expedient to write for it. I would wish Mr. Gooden to 
postpone an application for his claim upon the Treasury 
until September, as the census will not be completed 
before that time. 

A few weeks ago I went to Kentucky for my fam- 
ily ; but the badness of the weather and roads prevented 
me from bringing them down ; In the course of next 
month I shall make another essay to get them home. 

Your company at our house would afford me much 
pleasure. How easy will it be for you in the Summer to 
put yourself, your Suckey, and your Jonathan on board 
a boat, — to descend the Ohio, and to make us a visit? 
We have a most abundant garden and a flattering pros- 
pect of Currants, Peaches, and Nectarines. I am with 
respect Your obedient Servant 

Charles Willing Byrd. 
Colo. Massie. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 173 



Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Chillicothe June 13th 1801 
Dear Sir: — I reed your letter by your brother and 
think if the glass you mentioned was safely conveyed to 
this place or 5 boxes of it it would be sufficient for our 
Court house for which it is intended but should it be 
sent by land I fear a considerable quantity would be 
broke — particularly should your cart overset once or 
twice — your Brother tells me that opportunities fre- 
quently offer by which the glass could be sent to this 
place by water. I should prefer this method of getting 
it here and shall take the liberty of requesting you will 
please endeavor to have it sent in this w r ay two boxes 
could be taken on a horse to the falls from here. 
In haste yours respectfully 

T. Worthington. 

Charles Willing Byrd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati, June the 13th, 1801. 
Dear Sir: — Mr. Collins handed me your letter, and 
agreeable to your directions received from me thirteen 
dollars. I will take some early opportunity of settling 
your account with Conner. Your Servant arrived at 
this place before my return ; and Montgomery, in your 
name, took out a writ from the General Court against 
him, but permitted it to be returned to the office without 
having it executed; he then hired him out to Ruffin,and 
afterwards suffered him to hire himself to Mr. Burnet, 
who directed the Jailor to commit him to prison ; and 



174 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Abraham remained some weeks in jail. I suppose an 
account will be exhibited for jail fees; however as I un- 
derstand that the keeper employed the Prisoner to work 
for him in the day, I shall endeavor to frame an account 
in your behalf against the Jailor as a sett off; In all 
events there is money more than sufficient to pay his ac- 
count due from Persons who at different times have hired. 
your Servant. 

I consented to his liberation from confinement as 
soon as I discovered symptoms of repentance, and have 
been waiting some time for an opportunity of sending 
him to you. 

Unless he has grossly deceived me, he is anxious 
to return to you and will voluntarily accompany Mr. 
Collins. 

Be pleased to give my love to Suckey. 

I conclude in haste, and am respectfully yr. ob. 

servt. 

Charles Willing Byrd. 
Colo. Masse y. 



Nathaniel Massie to David Massie. 

•2 July 1801 
Dear Sir: — I have anxiously expected a letter from 
you this two mails past but am disappointed, by this 
time you are or have been at Washington city, I can say 
but little to you at present untill I hear from you 
on the subject of the papers that you took to obtain 
patents which I am in hopes your information will be 
full in my letter of the 27th of may I mentioned that I 
wished you to obtain pattents as soon as possible for 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 175 

John Grayham survey No 2337 for one thousand acres 
if there is any objections to a patent ensuing for a sur- 
vey be particular in stating - them I have now to repeat 
my request, as the land is sold and I am to receive the 
money in Alexandria as soon as I can make a deed 
which cannot be done untill I receive the pattent, Mr. 
Andrew Allison will set out shortly for Washington by 
him I will send you more papers, I do not expect you 
can leave that place before the first of September 

I have heard a great deal respecting the vaccine or 
Cow pox If it is pretty well established that it will an- 
swer all the purposes of the small pox I would recom- 
mend it to you to be innoculated — You will have a 
great deal of leisure time on your hands you might 
copy all the surveys you have with you as well as to 
take a very particular account of the warrants that is, 
to whom issued, to whom sold, who was the witness &c 
your Fathers family was well two days ago 
I am Dear Sir 

Your Ob. Servt. 

Nath. Massie 
Mr. David Massie 

Alexandria City, Virginia 

Charles Wilkens to Nathaniel Massie. 

Lexington 29th Deer 1801. 
Dear Sir: — I authorised your brother to make the 
proposal for pork mentioned in your letter of the 25th 
lust — I am still willing to sell any land north west of the 
Ohio river belong to my brother altho' the prospect for 
selling pork has much changed since I made the offer — 



176 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

I shall therefore refer you to Mr. Kerr for the price 
of the Lands & am willing to confirm any bargain made 
with him for the sale of any land which he may be au- 
thorised to dispose of belonging to my brother (the 
Tract at the lower falls of paint creek excepted). I 
would not agree to take pork in payment for any Cash 
Contract made previous to this time — The pork will be 
received any time before the 1st of Feby next at Man- 
chester & shall depend upon you to procure hands to 
conduct the boat to the Bayou piere or Natchez as I 
shall direct before the boat is ready to set out — The usual 
hire of hands to the Bayou-piere or Natchez is from 
40 to 50 dollars for the trip to be discharged upon the de- 
livery of the cargo — be pleased to inform me by the re- 
turn post whether or not I may depend on you for this 
supply of pork — or if you would prefer extending the 
quantity of pork to 200 barrels it would make up a load 
for a boat, & would be more agreeable to me 

Yours sincerely, 

Chas. Wilkins 
Col. Massie. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Lanes Villa Deer 31st 1801. 
D. Sir : — I came to this place last evening and have 
been obliged to wait on Mr. Baldwin to receive such 
papers as were forwarded by him to me — I regret ex- 
tremely that I have been obliged to wait for him I 
find him the worst traveller I have ever met with and 
should I continue to wait for him one month must 
elaps before we should reach the city. He has by bad 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 177 

treatment rode down his horse and this morning I shall 
certainly cain him — Arthur is certainly driving on at a 
round rate it is to be hoped his career will be stopped. 
I request you will be so good as inform my family of my 
health. Accept my best wishes for yours 

T. WoRTHINUTON. 

Colo. Massie. 



f Nathaniel Massie to Thomas Worthington. 

Ciiillicothe, Jan. 3, 1802. 

Dear Sir: — I have inclosed you a Chillicothe paper 
of yesterday's date, wherein you will observe every thing- 
material that has taken place since your departure. The 
correspondence between Colonel Finley and his Excel- 
lency is entirely of a piece with the rest of his conduct, 
and need no animadversions on it for me, as you are too 
well acquainted with his former conduct. 

I can not, however, help being a little apprehensive 
that the deposition of J. Lane will be attempted to be 
made use of to your and Mr. Baldwin's disadvantage; 
that is, to endeavor to excite animosity between you. 
But let me entreat you not to suffer any thing of the 
kind to intercept the principal object, and I am in hopes 
that you will endeavor so to explain the transaction as 
to give Mr. 'Baldwin's friends no uneasiness. 

The committee has not proceeded on their mission, 
but I anticipate the principal object, which is to attach 
as much odium to Baldwin's character as possible, and, 
of course, to show that you are not much better, for, by 
lessening the character of one, will, in a great measure, 
attach some suspicion to the other. 



178 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

You will receive, inclosed, a petition that I picked 
up the other day while I was on a tour as far as the 
Falls with Colonel Meade, who arrived at this place the 
day you left it. Dr. Tiffin has mentioned to me that he 
would inclose you a copy of a letter that he received from 
Mr. Wm. Ludlow a few days ago. It appears from Mr. 
Ludlow's letter that there will be considerable opposition 
from Hamilton. So much the better. I would recom- 
mend that on your arrival, if you find there is any doubt 
about an act being passed to express the disapprobation 
of the General Government, endeavor to have the busi- 
ness postponed a short time, until the Hamilton peti- 
tion can arrive. They must have their proportionable 
weight. 

I have written Mr. Brown and General Mason by 
this mail. Having said every thing that occurs at this 
time, I can only assure you that I shall be as industrious 
as possible on the occasion, both in writing to my ac- 
quaintance in Congress, and endeavoring to procure as 
many petitions as possible. . . . 

P. S. The charges against the Governor will be 
made the evening of the rising of the legislature. 

John Machir to Nathaniel Massie. 

Sir: — I find from a copy of your legislative proceed- 
ings a coalition is formed for the destruction of Chilli- 
cothe : or at least if successful in their objects must have 
that tendency. But like faithful representatives I see 
the middle county members steadily oppose it — I am not 
well enough acquainted with the situation geography & 
population of the Western county to form an opinion of 



The Life of Nathaniel Massi . 179 

its true policy but unless the boundary of' the States as 
fixed by the ordinances of Congress are altered it has 
always appeared to me some place on the Scioto was the 
most eligible spot to give consequence to & encourage 
the internal prosperity and population of your division. 
At all events it is necessary for you to have a seperate 
State as soon as possible for the internal policy of a State 
while subject to extrinsick controul is too liable to party 
& partial influence to have the general weal for its com- 
mon object. I wish the contest may turn out for the 
prosperity of the western county & the welfare of its 

citizens & I am 

Sir 

Your most obt 

Jno Machir 
Washington 4th Jany 1802 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington Jany 14th 

1802. 
Dear Sir: — I came tp this place two or three days 
since and so far as I can determine have reason to be- 
lieve we shall obtain our utmost wishes yet exertions 
must not be slackened and should you be active and de- 
cided in making proper charges against the governor I 
have had assurance from some friends he will be re- 
moved from office — He has given much umbrage in the 
comments (in his address) on the French Government 
and I was this day told by the post-master Genl that 
there was some tear that the french charge de affairs 
would complain of it — I give you this in confidence and 



180 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

wish you to keep it so as yet — I have wrote the commit- 
tee shall be happy to hear from you 

Yours Respectfully 

T. WoRTHINGTON. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington Jany 17 1802 
Dear Sir: — I wrote you a few clays siuce informing 
you of my arrival at this place — Since then I have had 
much conversation with many of the members of the 
house of representatives & Senate on the subject of the 
territory and am fully convinced that if proper pains 
is taken our Governor will be removed from office — 
I have therefore again ,to request you will take pains 
to forward such statements of his conduct properly 
supported as you can obtain — The receiving fees by 
him in any case not authorised by law is a proper 
subject of complaint Doctor Tiffin can certify so far as 
it respects ross county that Gov StClair has received fees 
on marriage & ferry licences unauthorised by law and no 
doubt you will recollect such parts of his conduct as has 
been exceptionable I suggest to you the propriety of ob- 
taining information of his conduct in other counties and 
of circulating petitions praying for his removal — Should 
he be removed the question is who shall be our Gov- 
ernor? Will it be proper to appoint any person residing 
without the Government ? I think not. If so who is to 
be the man within the Territory ? Knowing that we can 
confide in you I think you the most proper man with 
one exception only and that is that having made charges 
against the present governor motives of delicacy may 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 181 

" oppose you to the acceptance of the office — This diffi- 
cult} 7 must be got over. I respect and esteem Colo. 
Mi-eggs as an honest worthy man but fear his connection 
with our determined enimies may influence him more 
than could be wished of this I am doubtful & believe on 
the whole that I could rely on his Integrity. We must 
do something decisive or be kept in a continued scene 
of confusion by this unhappy old man — I shall therefore 
act in this business in the best manner my Judgment 
will suggest trust to a ruling providence for the conse- 
quences — Mr. Giles will undertake our business in the 
house of representatives with spirit and you may calcu- 
late soon to hear more of it through the medium of the 
publick prints — Mr. Fearing still declines to commence 
the business here but I shall not wait longer than to- 
morrow for him — I write to you in confidence expect you 
will write as often — your kind attention to my little fam- 
ily & concerns will be gratefully acknowledged by me. 
I have just received your letter of the 3rd Inst, and find 
our old gentleman is determined not to stick at trifles as 
usual — I am very glad the old man has gone so far for I 
assure you I conceive lie has effectually done his busi- 
ness in this last act — scarcely a doubt rests on my mind 
of his removal yet I may be mistaken and commit these 
things to you in confidence — I hope our friends will not 
for a moment believe that any difference will take place 
between Mr. Baldwin and myself. I request you will 
assure them of this — He has acted with great prudence 
and propriety since at this place. Our business is going 
on smoothly and I trust will conclude much to the satis- 
faction of our friends — I waited on the president today 



182 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

and informed him of the situation and that in a few days 
I should lay before him certain complaints against the 
Governor and also a little disappointed in not receiving 
them with your letter however I am pleased on the whole 
that you have suspended your operations to the close of 
the Session except on one acct which is that I shall be 
detained here so much the longer and you may rest as- 
sured I am extremely anxious to get home — When I ar- 
rived in Fredericktown I found Mr. Pittinger 10 !N\ W. 
of that place and that It would take me a day to trans- 
act the business I therefore prevailed on a gentleman of 
my acquaintance and on whom I could depend to attend 
to the business who rode my horse and set out from 
Frederick the same morning I did — I have not as yet 
herd from him and from this circumstance have reason 
to believe no money was obtained — Mr. Brown left this 
place yesterday morning if I should receive any money 
what will be done with it? I hope your exertions will 
not be slackened. My respects to Mrs. Massie and all 

our friends. 

Yours Respectfully 

T. WoRTIIINGTON. 

f Nathaniel Massie to Thomas Worthington. 

Chillicothe, January 18, 1802. 
Dear Sir: — On "Wednesday next, I am in hopes, this 
session of the General Assembly will end. Nothing 
very material has been done since you left this place. 
The committee of inquisition has not made their report, 
and I am sure if they were left alone they never would, 
but, for the credit of the inhabitants of this place, I 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 183 

shall endeavor to make them. I attended at their tak- 
ing of depositions, and every exertion was made to im- 
plicate some persons with a design to raise a riot to dis- 
turb the Governor and certain members but they failed. 
Indeed, it appeared that some of the members were 
greatly to blame. Mr. Baldwin was particularly aimed 
at, but nothing could be raked up. 

A resolution was laid on the table some days ago, 
b\ T mjself, requesting Congress to pass an act for our 
immediate admission into a State government, but it 
was soon kicked out of the House, it was hardly treated 
with common politeness. We have now before us a bill 
to take the census this year, but I am sure it will fail. 

You will receive a large packet of petitions by this 
mail, and chiefly from Hamilton county. From the 
latest information, that county is more than one-half op- 
posed to the measure, and it appears that the more the 
subject is examined, the more it is deprecated. I am 
very sanguine that at the next session the tone of mem- 
bers will greatly be changed in favor of a State govern- 
ment. 

A report is in circulation, at this place, that 'Squire 
Brown is shortly to set out for the city, with instructions 
to support the Governor's interest, and to use his influ- 
ence to obtain a judgeship for himself, for, in case the 
late judiciary system is changed by Congress, I appre- 
hend a judge will be wanting in this Territory, and I 
rather suppose this is his object, together to use his elo- 
quence to get the division act passed. If there should 
be a federal judge appointed in this Territory, I should 
be pleased with Judge Meigs receiving that appoint- 



184 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

ment, and, in that case, a territorial judge will also be 
wanting; I think Mr. Byrd would fill that office with 
respect and give general satisfaction. On this subject, 
you can be better informed from Mr. James Brown, if be 
is at that place. 

f Nathaniel Massie to James Madison. 

Sir: — Believing that Arthur St. Clair, Governor of 
the North-western Territory, has violated that confi- 
dence and trust reposed in him by the constituted au- 
thority of the United States in presiding over the Terri- 
tory as their chief magistrate, I have thought proper to 
exhibit to the President such parts of his conduct which 
appears inconsistent with the nature of his appointment, 
trusting that when a high and responsible officer has 
violated his constitutional duty, that an inquiry will be 
made into his conduct. 

The following' charges I wish and request you to 
lay before the President of the United States : 

1st. That Governor St. Clair has degraded his official 
character in attempting to divide the Territory, by as- 
suming to himself the right of recommending to the 
Hon. William H. Harrison, the then delegate to Con- 
gress from this Territory, in the session of the year 1799, 
when the legislature of this Territory had been but 
three weeks out of session, and to Mr. Pickering, the 
then Secretary of State, a plan of division which was 
calculated to deprive the inhabitants of the advantage 
and opportunity of forming a State government agree- 
ably to the provisions of the Ordinance for the govern- 
ment thereof, which lias ever been considered as their 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 185 

constitutional guide. That, in bis letter to the delegate, 
he s;ave as a reason that the division ouo-ht to be made 
as recommended, otherwise a certain part of the Terri- 
tory would be materially injured, which appears to be 
that part in which the delegate, as he supposed, was most 
interested, when to Mr. Pickering he used quite a 
different reasoning, to-wit : that if the division as 
recommended did not take place, that the then admin- 
istration might, with reasonable certainty, expect that 
the eastern State, as contemplated by the Ordinance, 
would in a short time become a State government, 
and the consequence would be that the representatives 
chosen from said State to represent them in the General 
Government would oppose the then administration. 
Indeed, his Excellency did not stop here, but conde- 
scended to criminate and represent the individual opin- 
ions of the different settlements of the Territory, saying 
that such a district of people was Republican, and 
another was in favor of the then administration ; and to 
inforce his reasoning more strongly on the probability of 
the majority of the said contemplated State being Re- 
publican, he referred him to the neighboring States of 
Kentucky and Tennessee; but, trusting that if the divi- 
sion as recommended was made, that such an influence 
as the General Government was capable of making 
might operate a change to their advantage. Viewing 
such conduct as degrading to the office of a chief magis- 
strate, inasmuch as it appears that he was placed over 
the independent sentiments of the inhabitants of the 
Territory rather than their chief magistrate, I can not 
not for a moment believe that the President will ever en- 



186 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

courage such conduct. To his letter to the Hon. Mr. 
Harrison, which was printed for the use of the members 
of both Houses at that session, and to his letter to Mr. 
Pickering at the same time, I beg leave to refer you ; if 
the last-mentioned letter was a private one, a copy, or 
the substance thereof, I can procure and will forward 
when requested. 

2d. That the Governor has demanded and received 
from the citizens of this Territory oppressive fees in the 
execution of his official duty unauthorized by law; for the 
confirmation of this article, I refer you to his letter on 
that subject. 

3d. That the Governor has violated the constitution 
of this Territory in assuming to himself the legislative 
powers thereof, by erecting new counties out of counties 
already laid out, and thereby altering their boundaries, 
and fixing the permanent seat of justice. I will refer 
you to his several proclamations on this subject. 

4th. That in public companies he lias frequently 
manifested a hostile disposition to a republican form of 
government in asserting that a monarchical government 
was the only form that could or ought to be supported, 
thereby degrading his official character as the chief 
magistrate of a people attached to a republican form of 
government. 

5th. That the Governor has attempted by his official 
influence to make justices of the peace of this Territory 
depart from their duty, and thereby to place the life, 
liberty and property of the citizens at his control; his 
conduct in the case of Colonel Samuel Finley, as a jus- 
tice of the peace, and certain citizens of the town of 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 187 

Chillicothe, as will appear from the Scioto Gazette of 
the date. 

Having the fullest confidence in the Chief Executive 
Magistrate of our General Government, I trust the 
above charges will have his serious and mature consid- 
eration. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington Jany 25th 1802 
D. Sir: — I have reed your letter of the 7th with the 
enclosed petitions — I can now with confidence pronounce 
that the law from the Territory will be rejected and that 
it will be unnecessary that any more petitions should be 
forwarded after this letter is received — The conduct of 
our enemies will be their own inevitable ruin beyond all 
doubt and the exercise of prudent and uniformly up- 
right conduct on our part is all that is required to estab- 
lish us beyond their power. 

Congress appear determined to' pass a law giving 
their consent to our admission into the union and every 
exertion ought to be made to prepare the minds of the 
people for this event — However I fancy they are pretty 
well prepared since I last wrote you — Mr. Fearing has 
laid the Ter'l law before congress & Mr. Giles has pre- 
sented the petitions and by the next mail I expect you 
will hear the decision — M3 7 friends generally have made 
it a common cause particularly Mr. Gallatin Mr. Baldwin 
of the senate Mr. Davis &c. I have every support I 
could wish but have been obliged to dance attendance 
for the last ten days faithfully — I received no instruc- 
12 



188 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

tions from the committee on the subject of a state gov- 
ernment although I mentioned to them that I thought 
congress would pass a law on the subject — I wish you to 
forward to me immediately on receiving this letter the 
Governors proclamation for erecting Clermont, Belmont 
& Fairfield Counties — I expect they will be found in the 
scioto gazette filed in my office and with Willis also I 
request that you will not neglect this request as these 
documents are important to me — I shall write to Dr. 
Tiffin & Colo. Finley on the same subject I am With 
respect & Esteem your 

Obt St 

T. WORTHINGTON. 

John Fowler to Nathaniel 31assie. 

Washington 29th J any 1802. 
Dear Sir : — I received your favor by Colo. Worthing- 
ton on his arrival here, and am happy to inform you 
that he has succeeded, and well to the full extent of his 
mission, and I flatter myself to the satisfaction of his 
constituents. His progress in business here in producing 
a revolution in your Government has been with as much 
facility as Buonaparte's crossing the Alps, to him much 
Credit is due by the friends to the revolution. The 
Legislative Act passed by your Legislature for altering 
the boundaries of the ~N. W. T. was rejected by a 
majority of 85 against five. A committee w r as this day 
appointed to bring in a Bill giving The Citizens in the 
~N. W. T. the option of becoming a Member of the 
United States by a Convention to be elected for that 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 189 

purpose, this bill will no doubt be passed I believe by a 
unanimous vote of Congress 

I have strong reasons to suspect the Governor is 
under marching orders, but you have not furnished your 
delegation with materials so promptly as they have 
executed their mission ; Citizen Baldwin deserves well 
of his County for his industry and talents in discharge 
of his trust since his arrival, except a little too much 
eagerness, tempered rather high — 

I enclose you a paper which contains the most 
important part of the debate on a motion for repealing 
the Judicial Act passed last session. 

The laws imposing internal taxes will all be repealed 
a mode of raiseing a revenue not productive and yet op- 
pressive and distressing, odeous in its nature and in my 
opinion repugnant to republican principles 

please to make my respects to your Lady and 
Brother Accept assurances of sincere friendship from 
Yr Mt Ob Servant 

John Fowler. 

Nathaniel Massie to Thomas James. 

Feby 3d 1802 
Mr. Thomas James 

Sir: — I have prepared a boat which I am in hopes 
will answer the purpose of conveying the cargo safe, 
for my part there will be ninety three barrels of Pork 
and four of hog lard all of which I shall commit to your 
care to do the best you can for me, It is my wish on your 
arrival at the first market which is Natchez if you can 
get Ten dollars a barrel for you to sell, if you cannot get 



190 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

that price when you arrive at Orleans if you can get 
twelve dollars to dispose of the pork &c. I had rather 
take these prices than to risk a sale at any of the 
Islands I have requested Mr. Boyd to let you have two 
hundred, dollars which I suppose will be sufficient for 
yourself and the expenses attending- my proportion of 
the freight of the pork you will receive an order on Mr. 
Ball who I have furnished with some flour and who will 
take charge of my boat with the hands I have engaged, 
Mr. Ball is to pay you the amount of the order and his 
proportion of his freight of the boat, the Boat cost 10 
shillings prfoot and the two hands sixty dollars each for 
the trip besides provisions &c after allowing sixty dollars 
for Balls wages proportion what each of us is to pay as 
above mentioned, one of the hands Mr. Collier I wish 
you to pay the amount of his wages that is sixty dollars 
and the other Mr. Byrield let him have fifteen dollars to 
pay his Expenses and furnish them with as much flour 
and pork as they can with convenience take with them, 
in case Mr. Ball cannot pay you the amount of the order 
receive from him what he can pay — Having said thus 
much to you as my wish If you cannot dispose of the 
pork as above mentioned you will do with it as you do 
with your own resting satisfied that you will do the best 
you can. Wishing you a safe voyage 
I am Dear Sir 

Your friend &c 

Xath Massie 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 191 



Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington Feby 8tli 1802 
D. Sir: — Colo. Sam'l Cabell has been informed that 
Lewis Washburn can establish the beginning of his entry 
on the waters of Eagle and straight Creek. I have told 
him that I have reason to believe you know Washburn 
and can give him character — Colo. Cabell will write you 
by this mail and in his situation if you can render any 
service you will add to my obligations. 

I wrote you b} T last mail since then the committee 
for the 1ST. W. T. have met and the only difficulty which 
exists is that the petitions generally have not prayed 
for a state government. If you recollect at our meeting 
I wished the petitions to embrace this object but was 
over-ruled — Thus you see our hopes are like to be 
blasted by our own neglect, I find from the petitions I 
have received from hamilton county they have acted 
with a degree of spirit which does them honor. The 
conduct of the Govr k his party are boldly stated and 
the petitioners pray congress to admit us as a state — I 
have not received for 10 days past a line from the Ter- 
ritory except tw T o letters from the committee from fair- 
field county so that here I am unsupported in what 
I assert to be the wishes of our people — I believe I shall 
be able not withstanding to effect our wishes but much 
more time will be lost but what can I do as I mentioned 
in my last shall the work be almost completed and then 
relinquished? No this is not my method of doing busi- 
ness I am determined to stay at this place untill may If 



192 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

by doing so I can promote the interest of our country 
and can any circumstances tend more to this than the 
removal of a tyrant and obtaining the permission of 
congress to emerge from our present degraded state — 
Let me therefore request my good friend that you will 
attend to this business with activity for I can assure you 
if this is done the Govr will certainly be removed — I 
have stated that the Govr has reed fees on civil & mili- 
tary commissions these facts I hope you will substanti- 
ate by proper testimony for they are certainly true — 
Every civil officer in Ross paid for his commission when 
that county was laid out & I believe this lias been the 
case generally — I have also stated that you were rem'd 
from office because you would not agree with the Govr 
in the construction of an existing statute law that law I 
have with me and it is only necessary that the fact should 
be procured which you know can be done — I expect 
McMillan here in a few days and shall have to combat 
both fearing and him but am perfectly prepared if you 
will only act your part — I can now make no other than a 
dishonourable retreat if any and am determined not to 
do this if it be possible to avoid it. 

I write you this in confidence and in much haste— 
You will please direct your letters to Mr Fowler who 
will take charge of them if I should not be here — He 
deserves much from our country — 

Yours Respectful \y 

T. Worth ington. 
Colo. Massie. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 193 



f Nathaniel Massie to Thomas Worthington. 

Chilltcothe, February 8th, 1802. 
Dear Sir : — Your letter of the 28th ultimo, together 
with your two other letters, came safe to hand. In the 
hurry of writing this letter, I can only tell you that I 
now inclose you the several proclamations asked for, and 
by the next mail you will receive the charges against the 
Governor in due form. Suffer me, my dear sir, to tell 
you that I am highly gratified with your conduct, and if 
you can remain a short time longer you will be assisted 
with all the aid that we can give you. However, I be- 
lieve you have never thought that we would not afford 
you every assistance that was in our power. 

You have been pleased to observe, in one of your let- 
ters, that in case the old man was removed who was to 
be the man, and asked me whether I would accept of 
the office. Be assured, sir, that under the circumstances 
in which I at present stand, nothing on earth would in- 
duce me to accept of the office. My first and greatest 
wish is to get him from the head of our government, and 
then I am sure some suitable character might be found. I 
differ from you in opinion, and in that difference you 
will readily reconcile to yourself that our object is the 
same, viz : The happiness of our country is our primary 
object. Such, I believe, to be yours. Any person that 
is not a resident will come to this country unconnected 
with party concerns. Such I must view every character 
at present among us, and most probably such a person 
w 7 ill give more general satisfaction than any other. 



194 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

However high I respect my country, I must be suffered 
to tell you that a short time hence I will not be seen in 
public life ; not that I believe myself possessed of any 
extraordinary talents to render my country that service 
which at present she requires, but I believe, after a State 
government is formed, I can, with safety and peace of 
mind, remain at home, where social happiness is only to 
be found. I am now writing with our friend Tiffin, 
who will probably tell you something more than I do at 
present. I must, before I close this letter, inform you 
that at our next session the prospect of a State govern- 
ment is greater than it has ever been since our ac- 
quaintance. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington Feby 9th 1802 
D Sir : — I wrote to you this morning and this even- 
ing reed your two letters of the 18th & 25th ultimo and 
must confess I was not a little surprised to find not a 
word said on the subject of the charges you promised to 
forward against the Governor — I am convinced if you 
will suffer yourself to reflect on this subject you will 
confess I have reason to complain — You will recollect 
that I mentioned to you that I would wait at this place 
untill your charges were forwarded that you proposed 
and promised to forward them. 

I am sure you will remember I mentioned to you 
that I was under no apprehension that congress would 
assent to the Territorial law that my great desire and 
wish was a removal of the Governor and obtaining the 
permission of Congress to form an independent state 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 195 

Government — I again assure yon these objects may be 
effected if rightly attended to and I have no doubt but 
Mr. Baldwin will give you full information of what I 
wish or think ought to be done as the means by which 
to obtain our wishes — I have 7 principle charges against 
the Govr Viz 1st rejection of laws through improper 
motives 2nd partiality in appointing civil officers that is 
in the erection of new counties taking the officers from 
other counties when the offices were lucrative as in the 
case of Ross and adams 3rd fees reed by the Govr Viz 
on ferry, tavern, & marriage licences on Civil and mili- 
tary commissions & C 4th Breaking Justices at pleasure 
as in your case and almost the same thing with Colo. 
Finley 5th Usurping the power of giving commissions 
during pleasure and revoking them in the same way. 
6th His enmity to a republican Government and militia. 
7th Creating parties in the Territory to answer his own 
views — Now Sir if you will only forward depositions to 
support the 3rd & 4th charges made here I will ask no 
more and this is clearly in your power Four of the 
other charges I have documents to support — Let deposi- 
tions be taken before some one or two Justices of the 
peace & have the county seal to them — Doctor Tiffin can 
certainly prove the 3rd charge and the 4th is notorious — 
Dr. Tiffin writes me that the marriage law is again re- 
jected forward the circumstances attending it — enclose 
your letters forme in a cover to Mr. John Fowler — I 
hope if you can you will attend now & then to the situ- 
ation of my business. 

I will only add that I rely on your exertions and 



196 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

that you may depend on mine here I am Sir with much 
Esteem Your Obt St 

T. WoRTHINGTON. 

Colo. Massie. 

John Foicler to Nathaniel Massie. 

Washington 9th Feby 1802. 

Dear Sir: — The Bill repealing the Judiciary Act of 
last session, passed in Senate on the 3d inst and now 
stands committed in the house of Representatives for 
discussion, to Monday next: The laws imposeing internal 
taxes will certainly be repealed. 

Your North Western disputes is before a commit- 
tee to be taken up on Saturday next, no doubt but a 
law will pass giving you the option of becomeing a 
member of the Union, Colo Worthington has been very 
industrious in the execution of his mission, but from his 
information, you have not been so, on your part, did you 
not promise him to forward documents to support sev- 
eral charges made by him against the administration of 
the Governor StClair. If you did make this promise you 
have neglected to do your duty, he has written you by 
this mail, his letter I have seen, and do tell you that its 
highly important that you should loose no time in com- 
plying with his requests, your failing to do this, places 
your friend in a disagreeable Situation, he has pledged 
himself to support certain charges, and it rests with you 
to enable him to do so. 

The people in your Territory has warm friends in 
the Republican party of this Congress, and are willing 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 197 

fo accommodate you to the utmost of your wishes, un- 
der these circumstances it behooves you to be active : 

I trust you will not make this letter public as I 
have a personal regard for some of your opposite party. 
I shall be glad to hear from you and authorise you to 
command my services. 

Please to tender my respects to your Lady and be- 
lieve me with high respect and afl't regard 

Yr. Mo. Ob. Srvt 

John Fowler 

Thomas Worth ington to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington Feby 20th 1802 
D Sir: — By last mail I reed your favour of the 8th 
Inst which has given me much satisfaction. I hope you 
will not fail to complete the business you speak of in 
due form. One point I wish established, viz., that the 
Governor did commission his son Atty Genl during 
good behaviour and that his is the only one held by that 
tenure. Mr. Byrd can no doubt establish this fact as 
all commissions are recorded in his office. Nothing 
more has been done in relation to our admission into the 
union. The house of representatives have been engaged 
for 10 days past in passing a law repealing the Judiciary 
law of last session this subject will.take up at least one week 
more after our business will I hope progress — I find I 
must of necessity stay here untill this business is ended 
and am almost certain in my own mind that the Govr 
will be removed that we shall have a law passed for our 
admission into the union there is no doubt I am sorry 
you are determined to quit publick life yet I am con- 
vinced you are right so far as it respects your own Indi- 



198 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

vidua! happiness but in relation to that of your country 
I am not so certain. We will leave this subject for 
after discussion. I am informed by Dr. Tiffin that we 
may expect his excellency here in a few days. I shall 
be happy to see him and think you will not see him re- 
turn in the same character — How lon"2; I shall continue 
here I can not say but (truly disagreeable as it is to me) 
I will not leave it so long as a prospect of rendering 
services to my Country remains. Your kind attention 
to my family will greatly oblige me — The president will 
I expect forward to the Govr a copy of the charges 
made against him — I wish you therefore to keep a good 
look out to prevent improper testimony from being ob- 
tained — You had better apprise some friend in hamilton 
of this circumstance. 

I am very respectfully your obt St 

T. WoRTHINGTOX. 

J. Brown to Nathaniel Massie. 

Washington bth March 1802 
Dear Sir: — I had this morning the pleasure of your 
favor of the 20th Ulto. & sincerely thank you for the at- 
tention already given to my request as expressed in mine 
of the 14th Jany, & for your promise of further assist- 
ance in accomplishing my object, which is to raise a 
sum of money from the sale of part of my military lands 
in your Country. In addition to what I have already 
stated on this subject I have only to add at present that 
it is my wish that you procure in any manner you may 
think advisable to effect a sale (if not at too great a 
sacrifice) as I must if possible raise some money from 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 199 

that source. I submit in this Business to your better 
Judgement — shall ratify any contract you may make on 
my behalf, & feel gratified for your friendly aid. I en- 
close the National Intelligencer of this Day to which re- 
fer you for information relative to the final proceedings 
of the H. of Representatives on the Bill to repeal the 
Judicial act of the last Session. As this mission was 
hinted at by the President in his message there remains 
no doubt but the Bill will receive his approbation, & 
that the Federal Judicial System which existed previous 
to the last Session will be revived. 

It is still my opinion that amendments to that Sys- 
tem must be made, particularly for the accommodation 
of the Districts which now compose the 6th Circuit. 
Without a new provision your Territory will be deprived 
of Federal Court, & notwithstanding, Colo Worthingtou 
& Mr Baldwin expressed an opinion that it is not neces- 
sary I am not fully convinced that the Territorial Judici- 
ary is so perfect, as to afford a satisfactory remedy in all 
cases, particularly in cases requiring the intervention of 
Chancery Jurisdiction — In looking out for suitable char- 
acters to till the office of Judge, or Governor for your 
Territory some difficulty occurs— & in both cases this 
difficulty may have an influence, upon the ultimate ar- 
rangement. But more on this Head hereafter. As 
Colo Worthington who is very attentive to the Interests 
of the Territory will doubtless write you fully I shall 
not trouble with my remarks at this time being much 
engaged with the Business of Senate. 

The Executive have as yet no official information 
relative to the Cession of Louisiana to France until 



200 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

lately I gave little credit to the report in circulation on 
that subject, but a variety of circumstantial testimony 
has induced me to think it very probable. Indeed some 
French officers who left France since the sailing of the 
French fleet for the West Indies assert that part of that 
armament is destined to take possession of New Orleans. 

That Fleet we are informed by an arrival at Balti- 
more has arrived at St. Domingo. It is also said that 
that upon their approach, Toussaint, put to death every 
white & Mulatto on the Island — burnt & distroyed all 
the plain Country & retired to the mountains firmly re- 
solved on Liberty or Death — 

I expect a long session as very little Business has 
been yet completed — 

I am very respectfully 

Yo Mo Obt. Svt, 

J. Brown. 

Thomas Wortliington to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington March 5th 1802 
Dear Sir — .-Nothing of consequence has taken place 
since my last — I have reed your letter of the and think 
you have omitted some of the principle charges against 
Govr StClair. However they are noticed by others — and 
are now submitted to the president — As yet I cannot tell 
what will be his determination — Whilst I am writing I 
have read your letter of the 19th ultimo and must con- 
fess I am soriw to find there does not exist uniformity of 
opinion among my friends in the territory on the sub- 
ject of a state government — I have been positively in- 
structed by the committees of fairfield and Ross Counties 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 201 

to endeavor to obtain the permission of Congress for our 
admission into the union — I have reed petitions signed 
by thousands from Hamilton to the same effect & am in- 
formed by Mr. Darlington that the like Instructions 
will come from adams county— Under these circum- 
stances I have believed my duty directed to pursue the 
wishes of those for whom I act — at the same time be- 
lieving it both necessary and proper that congress should 
interfere and enable us to form an Independent govern- 
ment as soon as circumstances will permit — For my part 
I can see no personal interest we have to promote ex- 
cept it be to procure the setting of the convention at 
Chilicothe and so far as it respects myself I would rather 
it should sit at Marietta if it would have a tendency to 
conciliate the jealousies which have subsisted — But let 
me ask you whether these people have not made every 
effort to destroy the prospects of our country and can 
you for a moment believe that the great body of the 
people have any enmity towards us — Has it not been 
confined to Govr StClair and his tools for the}' deserve 
no better name — Have we ever given the people of the 
Territory cause for enmity towards us — On the con- 
trary have we not uniformly advocated their rights and 
thereby drawn upon us the persecution of their oppres- 
sors — What is now our object ? It cannot be our own 
aggrandizement — No It is to give to the people a gov- 
ernment of their own choice and free them from the 
clutches of a tyrant and his accomplices — The more I 
view the late attempt to destroy the prospects of our 
country in relation to a state government the more 
abhor rant it appears in my eyes and I take it for 



202 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

granted that the same men if they had the power would 
again practice the same conduct — You seem to think 
any interference by the IT. S. would injure the republican 
cause — My Dear sir can you suppose that the great body 
of people are pleased with our present form of govern- 
ment? I think not. Let us examine how far congress 
intend to interfere. They say we believe your Govern- 
ment oppressive and that through the artifice of your 
rulers every attempt you make to change it is defeated 
we will therefore point out a mode by which to know 
your real desires — should you prefer a state govern- 
ment we are willing to receive you on the other hand 
should you prefer your present government } 7 ou are at 
liberty to do so. 

This sir is the language of congress and can this 
give umbrage to any republican in the territory? 

If it does give me leave to say he deserves not the 
name nor would I believe he had any pretensions to it — 
It will be near two years before we can get a state gov- 
ernment into operation with all the expedition we can 
make & by then I think it will be full time to change — 
If congress do not Interfere when or by what means do 
you suppose we shall be admitted into the union — I am 
convinced that 18 months must elaps before we have 
6000 Inhabitants and after that at least 18 months more 
before we commence a state government and after all we 
must obtain the consent of congress that is our Consti- 
tution must be submitted to their inspection or in some 
way their assent must be obtained. The committee to 
whom w T as refered the petitions and census from the N". 
W. Territory have made a report, a copy of which I 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 203 

send you — How far you may consider the proposition 
made in it advantageous to our state I cannot say yet I 
am induced to believe you will believe them highly bene- 
ficial. From the best view I have of the subject I think 
so — from the best calculations I can make the state will 
obtain property amounting to at least 500,000 dollars 
and will not loose a sum exceeding 50000 dollars besides 
the advantages of the contemplated roads which will be 
of the utmost importance to our state. Whilst I am 
writing this petitions signed by a thousand persons have 
been reed from Jefferson county praying congress to 
pass a law for our admission into the union — I fear I 
have tired you — I could say much more — I am I) Sir 
very respectfully your Obt St 

T. WORTHINGTON. 

Israel Donalzon to Nathaniel Massie. 

Manchester 14th March 1802 
Dear Sir: — My having not met you agreeable to 
appointment was oweing to some circumstances unavoid- 
able, and I understand the indisposition of Mrs Massie 
prevented your being down at Court. 

It has struck me that there would now be some 
chance of relieving this County from its embarrisment 
as to the Seat of Justice through the Secretary as he is 
now possessed of all Governmental powers in the absence 
of old St Clair, should you think with us and have the 
business affected it would add much to the convenience 

of the County 

I am Sir Yours 

Israel Donalzon 
13 



204 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 



Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington March 23rd 1802 
D Sir: — I mentioned to you in a former letter that 
I had sent a messenger in Jan}' to Mr. Pittinger for 
your money and that he could not at that time pay it — 
Since then and after the bonds became due I have had a 
second application made and have reed the whole amt 
888 61/100 dollars out of which I have been obliged to 
pay 20 61/100 dollars to the person who collected the 
money and Brought it to this place placing the sum of 
868 dollars in my hands which I will put into the hands 
of Mr. John Brown subject to your, order — Nothing of 
consequence has transpired since I last wrote you — I ex- 
pect our business will be taken up tomorrow — I am 
sensible of Mr. Baldwins good intentions towards me 
and feel thankful but I could have wished he had said 
nothing in relation to the report mentioned in his publi- 
cation — I am entirely easy as to any ill natured report of 
this kind knowing it is false. I fear this publication 
will tend to bring forward others which may have no 
good effect — The Govr came to this place friday last & 
is now confined with the Gout — He has been furnished 
with the charges against him — You have not yet for- 
warded proof of your removal from office by the Govr. 
Very respectfully I am 

Your obt st. 

T. Worthington. 
Colo. Massie. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 205 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

D. Sir: — I do myself the pleasure to enclose to you a 
copy of a law passed for the admission of the Terr'y into 
the union as a state. I leave this place in an hour. 
Yours in haste. 

T. Worth ingtox. 
City of Washington 30 of April 1802. 
Colo. Massie. 

Charles Willing B>/r>f to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati— May the 20th— 1802. 
Dear Sir: — The Inhabitants of the County of Ham- 
ilton have been sounded on the subject of a Candidate 
for the office of Governor under the proposed new 
State ; and the general wish is, that as ours is the most 
populous County in the Territory, we should elect the 
first magistrate under the State Government from this 
County. The Governors Partizans are in favor of either 
him or McMillan. The Party in opposition feel them- 
selves at a loss upon this subject. Some of the Members 
of the Legislature have solicited me to become a Can- 
didate for that office, and have promised me the support 
of the Republican interest in Hamilton County. Per- 
haps they intended only to flatter me; but whatever 
their intentions may be, I do not hesitate to say, that I 
am conscious I should not have the smallest chance of 
success, and even if there was the fairest prospect in my 
favor I would decline the offer, because the appointment 
would not be acceptable to me. Under this impression 
I have embraced every opportunity of directing their 



206 The Life of Nathan id Massie. 

attention to yon. And I am happy in being able to in- 
form yon, that yon are the only Person (ont of the 
County of Hamilton) who will be able to command their 
votes. Captain White, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Dunlavy 
have bound themselves by a promise to give you their 
interest. Those Gentlemen and some others of influ- 
ence have told me, that their first wish was to see you 
the Governor of the contemplated State, and myself 
upon the Bench of the Supreme Court. With regard to 
me this was probably mere flattery ; but as it relates to 
you I am convinced that they are serious. Each of 
them expressed an apprehension that you would be pre- 
vailed on, contrary to their wishes, to decline in favor of 
some other character in Ross, and that by doing so you 
would divide the Party in opposition to St. Clair and 
McMillan, and perhaps open the door or rather pave 
the way for one of them. From all the information 
which I am able to collect, it seems to be their deter- 
mination, if you do not offer, to risque everything in 
favor of some Inhabitant of this Comity ; and I am 
frequently solicited to importune you to become a Can- 
didate. 

Petitions have been received to convene the assem- 
bly ; and I have promised to take time for reflection be- 
fore I make up my mind on the Subject. Both parties 
have united in this application, but I confess that I am 
jealous of the Council, and believe that they would not 
accede to any measure, with a view to cooperate with 
the Act of Congress in effecting a change of Govern- 
ment in our County. What is your opinion upon this 



The Life of Nathanu I Massie. 207 

question? I will thank you to write to me immediately 
on the subject. I am Dear Sir your oh — humh — servt. 

Charles Willing Byrd. 
P. S. Our love to Suekey— 
Colo. Massie Paint. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Chillicothe May 20th 1802 
D Sir.: — I have expected the pleasure of seeing you 
at this place for some days but have been so far disap- 
pointed — Will you please make it convenient to come 
down as soon as you can — I have much to say to you 
of a very interesting nature — politicks begin to run high 
here — You will be astonished to find the pains taken by 
the few federalists in this place to send federal repre- 
sentatives to the convention — Some system is necessary 
on our part — We have delayed a meeting on the subject 
expecting you — please let me know when you will be 
down and let that be as soon as you can. 
Yours Respectfully 

t. worthington. 
Colo. Massie. 

J. Brown to Nathaniel Massie. 

Frankfort 1st Jane 1802 
Dear Sir: — I called at your Gate on my return 

from Washington but made no stop hearing you were 

from Home, & being myself anxious to prosecute my 

Journey. 

Presuming that ere now you have had an interview 

with Colo. Worthington k obtained from him particular 



208 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

information of every thing worth notice which occurred 
during the late Session of Congress, especially of these 
which have relation to the X. W. Territory. I shall not 
now trouble you with any remarks on these subjects 
further than to express my wishes that what has been 
done for the Territory may largely promote its prosper- 
ity & the Happiness of its Inhabitants. 

I wished much to have known whether you have 
had any otters for any part of my Military land, & 
whether there is a prospect of selling shortly. I am in 
want of money & would agree to sell very low for Cash 
or short credit. Be so good as to let me know whether 
in your opinion anything is to be expected from that 
quarter & whether you have obtained any further infor- 
mation relative to the quality & value of my lands, the 
courses of which I sent to you last Winter. 

A line on this subject will much oblige Sir 

Yo mt obt St 

J. Brown 
N. Massie Esq. 

Thomas Janus to Nathaniel Massie. 

Philadelphia 1st June 2 
I) Sir: — I have nothing of consequence to inform 
you more than I'm safe landed here — My trip has been 
long and tedious 49 Days on sea and when landed im- 
mediately attacked with fever & ague which I seldom 
or ever miss on this side the mountain. I could but 
feel surprised at finding Genl Saint Clair in this place 
who informed me he had been from the Territory since 
the first of March, which raised my curiosity & on in- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 209 

quiryfind I can congratulate yon on your late advantage 
of a free and independent state N. W. the Ohio. 

The prices of produce at iSTew Orleans I have sent 
on to Chillicothe several times, flour, from 5 to 7 Dol 
pork 9 to 11 though I sold none at nine which was ow- 
ing to its superior quality — 

My intentions after arriving at Orleans and finding 
the prices low were to ship. 

But on consideration and the advice of W. Brown 
thought proper not — the principal part of trade the Ha- 
vannah was shut to all American schooners — 
and am Sir 

Your Hble Svt 

Thos. James 

Charles Willing Byrd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Secretary's Office — Cincinnati — 

J une th c 7th— 1802. 
Dear Sir: — Agreeable to the petition from Adams 
and to the hint communicated in your Letter of the 
24th ulto— I have made out the enclosed commissions. 
Not having any direct private conveyance to that County 
and knowing that you have much intercourse with its 
Inhabitants, I take the liberty, by Mr. Nimmo one of 
the Cincinnati Merchants, to send them to you in order 
that they may be forwarded to the Gentlemen appointed. 
Sally and myself will expect the pleasure of seeing you 
Mrs. Massie and your Son in the Course of the Summer. 
I suppose from your Brother Henry's staying so long, 
that he will bring from Jessamine an increase of Popu- 
lation to the Territory. Jacob Burnet is endeavoring 



210 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

to distract the minds of our Citizens by telling them that 
we can hold no election for Convention men under the 
Act of Congress : as it cites a Law of the Territory for 
the regulation of the Election which has been repealed; 
I have made some attempts to counteract his exertions. 
It is my opinion that no person will be chosen a member 
who is not in favor of a State Government. We are 
glad to hear of the valuable discovery on your Estate; 
and I am Dr Sir 

With esteem yr. ob. servt. 

Charles Willing Byrd. 
Colo. Massie Falls of Paint. 

Charles Willing Byrd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati— June the 20th— 1802. 

Dear Sir: — I had the pleasure by your Nephew to 
receive your favor of the 15th. 

Mr. John Smith and the rest of the advocates for a 
New State who petitioned for the convening of the 
Legislature, are now satisfied (at least they express them- 
selves in that manner) with the objections which were 
urged against the measure as an apology for not com- 
plying with their application. But the Governors Party 
are highly exasperated, and Burnet has frequently 
declared in large companies, that the most violent 
tumults in the Territory, such as were never before 
witnessed in any Country, would be the certain con- 
sequence. The Democratic Societies of Hamilton are 
as jealous of Mr. John Smith as they are of McMillan 
and Burnet, and are attempting to prejudice me against 
him ; I may be deceived in him, but I entertain so 



The Life, of Nathaniel Massie. 211 

favorable an opinion of his character, that I must credit 
his assertion when he declares that he is extremely 
anxious to go immediately into a State Government. 

Be pleased to present my respects to Mrs. Massie, 
and tell her that Meade is very like her. We shall at 
some time or other attempt to visit you, but the Swamp 
between Williamsburg and ISTew Market presents many 
difficulties to Female Travellers. 

With esteem I am D Sir yr — most ob — servt 

, P. S. A ship has just descended the Ohio. 

Colo. Massie Falls of Paint 

John Graham to Nathaniel Massie. 

Madrid (Spain) 13th July 1802 
My Dear Colo : — I flatter myself that after an ab- 
sence of twelve or fifteen months you will receive with 
pleasure this Letter from your old Friend written with 
a view to assure you of his regard and of the interest 
which he takes in your Happiness — 

I congratulate you on the admission of the Territory 
into the Union as a free & Sovereign State — indeed from 
some of the proceedings of your last Session, it appears 
to me time that the Government should be directed by 
the voice of the People — 

It is only from some detached newspapers, that I 
see or hear anything of American affairs, and they, in 
gratifying my Curiosity give pain to my pride, & my 
sensibility as a citizen of the United States — Believe me 
there is nothing which tends more to lessen the Dignity 
of our Country abroad than that unfortunate propensity 
which our newspaper writers have to abuse Public men 



212 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

& Public measures — but when this propensity has an in- 
fluence upon the conduct of members in Congress it is 
then really dangerous — for it produces an opinion — that 
we are a divided People, and when the nations of Europe 
are convinced of this, depend upon it, they will press 
very hard upon us — I will not say that they wish to dis- 
troy us ; but I believe they do not wish to promote our 
prosperity — because those who have possessions in 
America fear that our power may one day or other be 
troublesome to them — I have also an idea that they do not 
like our kind of Government (I mean the Rulers, for the 
People in this quarter of the Globe have little or nothing 
to say in public affairs) & are pleased to hear of our dis- 
putes as they tend in some measure to strengthen their 
declarations — " That Republicanism is a mere theoretic 
doctrine and will not do in practice " So far as it re- 
lates to Europe I believe they are right in this position : 
but I trust we shall long remain a proof of the error of 
their opinion, when applyed to more virtuous Countries. 

I have a great desire to be again with you and to 
settle myself down as your neighbor for life — I hope you 
have not left Harrican Hill — as the Ohio has great 
charms for me, and if we should loose Kennedy's Bot- 
tom, I am still determined to have some little place upon 
the River — I will not pester you with any account of 
this country — I will onl}- say that in every respect it is 
the opposite of the Territory, and consequently I know 
you would not like it — 

The very unequal distribution of Fortune occasions 
a melancholy contrast in the situations of Individuals — 
while some have an income of nearly a million of Dollars 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 213 

annually, others (and there are a very numerous class) 
are obliged to depend upon chanty for their subsistence — 
This disparity of Fortune will account for much corrup- 
tion of morals (yet if the accounts which I have heard 
are true) other causes must have contributed to produce 
the effect — You will see from this how much you ought 
to rejoice at being born an American — or that Fortune 
has cast your lot in the Country least exposed to the 
corruption of European manners — but as time goes on 
the contageon will probably reach us — and your De- 
scendants will be among the Princes, which is certainly 
better than being among the Beggars of the Country — 

The climate of this part of Spain is very much like 
ours in the Summer particularly — There are two, things 
in which we have greatly the advantage of them — They 
have little rain & no Trees — You may imagine what is 
the appearance of a sandy, poor, gravelly country under 
these circumstances at this time of the year — You have 
no Idea of the value of the fine Forests you possess — if 
I ever turn Poet I shall celebrate them in Song — and 
endeavor to convince you that the Tree which gives us 
Fire in winter & shade in Summer is among the best 
things of this world — 

I had written thus far in my Letter to you, when I 
was called off by Business & have now very little time 
to finish it — You will have heard before this that the 
French are to become our neighbors on the Mississippi — 
It is said they will send out an army in September to 
take possession of New Orleans — what are their inten- 
tions with regard to our trade I know not — It is a Sub- 
ject on which no one here seems to be informed & I 



214 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

think it more than probable that the French Government 
have not yet determined what course to pursue — but 
will shape their conduct according to circumstances — in 
this event we must be firm — 

Our Enemies on the Mediterranean are increasing — 
a short time since the Emperor of Morocco most wan- 
tonly declared war against us — and I should not be sur- 
prised if other Barbary Powers were to follow his ex- 
ample — On this point I am not very uneasy for if they 
all were to make war against us ten or a dozen Frigates 
with a few Sloops of war would be an over match for 
them — the burthen of these would not be very sensibly 
felt, and they would be an excellent nursery for our 
naval officers — The time must come when we shall be 
obliged to have a Navy — & officers brought up in a 
school like this will be wonderfully diligent — not having 
heard any thing of private affairs since I left America 
I have nothing to say to you about Business : but if you 
will have the Goodness to say something to me on that 
subject I shall be obliged to you — tho if you do not 
write soon it is very possible that the Letter will not find 
me in Europe. 

Pray present me to Mr. & Mrs. Gordon, Brothers, 
Major Beasley & all my old friends who enquire after 
me — , 

With most Respectful Compliments to Mrs. Massie — 
Your Affectionate Friend 

John Graham — 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 215 



Israel Donalzon to Nathaniel Massie. 

Manchester 15th July 1802 
Dear Sir: — By a letter received a few days ago 
from Mr. Darlington accompanying one to you I expect 
lie has urged you in the strongest manner to solicit Col. 
Byrd for Additional Commissions, has enjoined it on me 
as a duty I owe to myself and Country to use my best 
endeavors with you on this subject and altho this 
Anxiety may appear Childish at the expiring moments 
of the present Administration (and I can assure you I 
feel the greatest delicacy on this Occasion) yet I find all 
we have accomplished will stand us no stead unless an 
addition could be affected Viz two more justices of Gen- 
eral quarter Sessions & one more Judge of common Pleas 
as of the former they have a decided Majority all the 
Judges being commissioned in a double capasity and of 
the latter it would be impossible to hold a court without 
one of their Fraternity (I think Mr. Edie would make a 
good Judge) Our fifth Judge has lately discovered in 
himself a much greater stock of knowledge than he 
knew he had before in a sitting as a commissioner of the 
County, but one of his coleagues to wit Noble says he 

is a d d fool and he put him in this time but he never 

will put him in as Commissioner again in haste 
Yours Respectfully 

Israel Donalzon 



216 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 



Charles Willing Byrd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati Aug — the 7th — 1802. 

My clear Sir: — I sincerely participate in your sorrow 
for the loss of your poor sweet Boy. You have how- 
ever one consolation ; his sufferings were not of long 
duration. 

Commissions have been made out by me and trans- 
mitted to Adams, agreeable to request ; so that in the 
Quarter Sessions there will be hereafter a majority of the 
Court opposed 'to the Governor's party. The appoint- 
ments were enclosed to Mr. Donaldson. Previous to the 
receipt of your former Letter relative to Mr. Scott, many 
applications had been made for the office of Collector in 
the Military District; but as McGlaughlin refused to re- 
sign until the arrival of old St. Clair, I of course made 
no appointment to that office. The Governor has given 
it to Carlisle, who I understand is not a favorite with the 
Inhabitants. 

With much esteem I am Dear Sir yr — ob — servt — 

Charles Willing Byrd. 
Colo. Massie, Paint. 

Henry Massie to Nathanid Massie. 

Richmond 3d October 1802 
D Sir: — I make no doubt but the Death of our 
Father will reach you before this will, his Death was in 
the Month of May with an illness which lasted 15 or 16 
days, he was Sensible of his approaching Death, & with 
a Will has made ample provision for the Girls, all his 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 217 

personall Estate is left to them, except two Negroes to 
Gidion, he has provided a Home, " during their being 
single" on the Tract of land he lived on, with the Hire 
of their Negroes will be Sufficient to Support them, in- 
dependent of any other aid, the Estate is Clear of Debt, 
and a Very good Crop on hand which will fetch at least 
$1500, I found all things in good order and the greatest 
harmony existing between the Girls. 

I am making arrangments to bring out two of the 
Girls, Nancy, & Patsy has agreed to come out with me, 
I expect Gidion will come also, if so, Tomme}* will stay, 
this arrangement has not been finally determined on as 
yet — I have purchased a Coachee, to bring the Girls 
out, with an expectation it will Suit your Family after 
it gets out, the price is $380 with Silver mountings or 
$300 with Brass, upon making a calculation I find the 
difference in taking the Girls out in a carriage & on 
Horse back, will be not less than $80 in favour of the 
latter besides the Horses, it would take Six Horses, to 
go on Horse back & three would do in the other case. I 
shall not be obliged to make use of more than $100 of 
your money for the payment of the Carriage, all of 
the Girls expenses will be paid by Mr. Miller as Extr to 
the Estate — I wrote you before I left Home, respecting 
the amount of money you wish me to apply to Mr. Sul- 
lavent, Colo Worthington has wrote to Mr. Beckly say- 
ing you had settled with me, for the amount of his 
Draft, or Mr. Sullevant, Will you Say whether I am to 
pay any more than $400 for Mr. Sullevant, I have al- 
ready paid the $400, if Beckley's Draft is paid off in full 
it will take $100 more, however I shall wait until I hear 



218 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

from you before I do any tiling in the business, if you 
write me immediately after the rec't of this, to this place 
it will meet me before I leave this Country, I leave this 
tomorrow for Goochland in a few Days shall set out for 
the City of Washington, but do not expect to arrive there 
until the latter end of the month. I am in hopes I shall 
be able to set out for Home about the 15th of Novem- 
ber — there is no Xews in this place of consequence 
My best respect to sister, tell her I expect to have the 
pleasure of seeing a fine Nephew or a' Niece on my re- 
turn I am Dr Sir 

With esteem 

Your Ob St. 

Hen. Massie. 

Henry Bedinger to Nathaniel Massie. 

Martinsburg October 30th 1802. 
Deeir Sir: — Permit me to introduce to you Mr. 
George Hoffman, a Young Gentleman of Uncommon 
Talents and Character, he is young but his experience, 
his talents and his Industry as a Clerk exceed his years, 
lie has long acted as a Deputy Clerk of Shannandoah, 
and of late has performed under Mr. John Peyton the 
whole Duties of the District office at Winchester, lie 
aspires at something more than a Deputy, and as enter- 
prize is a part of his character, he is Willing to try his 
fortune in the New State, Could he be so happy as to 
obtain your particular patronage, I will vouch that he 
will never dishonor his patron, nor commit a single act 
of ingratitude, for any attention, favor or advice you 
may please to bestow. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 219 

Yon will find him strongly recommended by Gen- 
tlemen of Character and Fortune, who have known him 
from his infancy, and I have no Hesitation in saying 
that I am not acquainted with any Young man of Su- 
perior Character — I know you love to encourage Virtue, 
here then is a subject whose protection and promotion 
may add to your future felicity — 

Please excuse my intrusions as no Doubt you are 
much engaged in the contemplation of your New Gov- 
ernment, you have a weighty task to perform, I am 
However happy that you have so many Republicans to 
assist you in the arduous undertaking 

am Dear Sir your Obt Servt 

Henry Bedinger 
Colo jSTathl Massie 

f Nathaniel Massie to Thomas Worthington. 

Falls of Paint- Creek, December 8, 1802. 
. . . I have little or nothing to say on the sub- 
ject of our propositions; but, at all events, endeavor to 
secure to the State the Salt Licks. I could wish that 
you would endeavor to know the situation of the port 
of Orleans. I make no doubt but the Executive, before 
this, has had full information on the subject. I am told 
the inhabitants of Kentucky are very uneasy, and that 
the legislature of Kentucky is about to, or before this 
time has, drawn up a memorial to the Executive of the 
General Government. As it will affect our country in 
the same manner, if not to the same extent, as it does 
that State, we ought not to be remiss on the subject. I 
14 



220 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

have taken the liberty of mentioning it to Mr. Giles, 
and also to Captain Fowler. I am in hopes that the 
shutting of the port is only intended to give the two na- 
tions time and leisure, without being interrupted, to set- 
tle the necessary arrangements attending such business. 
Should, however, this not be the case, and that it is done 
for the purpose of setting aside our treaty with Spain, I 
assure you the consequences will be serious, as I am sure 
the inhabitants will never submit for the navigation of 
that river to be stopped, and they must have a place of 
deposit near the mouth. Let me hear from you shortly. 
Direct to Brown's Cross Roads, Ross county. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington 25th Deer 1802. 
D Sir: — Nothing of consequence has transpired 
since my arrival at this place. Our friends appear highly 
pleased with the proceedings in our quarter & so far ap- 
pear heartily disposed to render every attention to our 
affairs — Our business is before a committee of congress 
and I hope will very soon pass through. Your papers 
are put in train but I fear I shall not be able to obtain 
your patents as the clerks tell me they have as much 
business as they can do for two months to come — I shall 
have some conversation with Mr. Madison on the subject 
and endeavor to get another clerk employed. I had 
near an hours conversation with Mr. Jefferson a few 
days since on matters which relate to our country, and 
particularly New Orleans. He informs me the most 
prompt measures have been pursued to do away the 
difficulty at that place that the Spanish minister on re- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 221 

ceiving information of the state of affairs there had im- 
mediately dispatched a pilot boat with a communication 
to the intendant and to the governor general who resides 
at the Havannah. That there is good ground to believe 
the Intendant has acted unauthorized by his government 
and that matters will very soon put in their usual train — 
He introduced the subject of Mr. Bs appointment and 
from what I can understand little difficulty will exist on 
that subject. I had not learned until] I reached this 
place that Govr St. Clair was removed. Our friends 
here censure the majority of the convention for permit- 
ting him to address them and execrate the address but 
are highly gratified that it had no other effect than to 
create disgust & contempt — This poor old man has at 
length got out of publick life dishonourably — Will you 
write me what effect his removal appears to have. I 
presume you will receive this on the eve of our elec- 
tion. In relation to myself I can only say now as be- 
fore I am willing to be disposed of as shall be thought 
best by my friends in the county — I am very respect- 
fully your friend 

T. WORTHINGTON. 

N. B. Our friends here are generally well pleased 
with our Constitution. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie 

City of Washington Jany 6th 1803 

D Sir : — I have reed the following information from 

the war office in relation to your papers Viz. In the 

survey to Wm. Croghan for 667 acres " The original of 

warrant ISo 2668 or a copy of it must be obtained be- 



222 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

fore a patent can Issue." In the survey of Nathl 
Massie for 1580 Acres " The warrant no 1089 on part of 
which the within survey was made is not produced nor 
a copy certified under the seal of office. " 

It will be necessary you will see to forward these 
papers before patents can issue. Xo other objections 
that I know of to your papers. Nothing of consequence 
has transpired since my last — Congress has done nothing 
as yet — They have resolutions in relation to Orleans and 
Louisiana now before them but I believe feel at a loss 
what course as yet to pursue — As usual business makes 
a slow progress yet I hope all which relates to our 
country svill be done to our satisfaction — I just informed 
of the death of Mrs. Langham — I hope she is now in a 
place free from trouble & care she had her portion here 
— I hope your family are as well as usual. I find you a 
bad correspondent — not having reed a line from you — I 
am informed you have many candidates for the Legisla- 
ture among whom is Mr. M. Baldwin. Congress II of 
E have been (debating I suppose) all da}' 7th with closed 
doors on the subject of Orleans & Louisiana. My re- 
spects to Mrs. M 

Yours with much Esteem 

t. worthington. 

Colo. Massie. 

John Smith to Nathaniel Massie. 

Round Bottom Mill Jany 22d 1803 
Dear Sir : — Messrs Burnet & Bowers looks blacker 
than ever since the election — I never saw a party so 
much chagrined as that of the old Governors — I think 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 223 

he will now be forsaken as he has not the loaves & 
fishes any longer at his disposal — Poor old man he has 
ruined himself — He has found that true which you 
properly observed at the convention — " Give him rope 
and he will hang himself" — 

It is said that he will not return to our new state 
again — but remain to condole with some of his friends 
in the East — I am well pleased to see the acct of your 
election in Ross — I am pleased with it — I am pleased 
much — As it is another proof of the Republican firmness 
of the County of Ross — I have not seen the return from 
Adams but I presume it exhibited similar proofs of their 
attachment to cause of our new State — I am requested 
to say to you Sir that Mr. Dunlavy will be a Candidate 
for the office of the president of the pleas for the west- 
ern District — And John W. Brown is a Candidate for 
the office of Clerk to one of the Houses of the Legisla- 
ture. It is wished by some of their friends that they 
may be favoured with your support — 

I expect in a few days to embark for 1ST Orleans — I 
hope to return in May or June at furthest — 

Meanwhile accept the assurance of the high con- 
sideration & respect with which 
I am I)r Sir 

Your most obedient Servt 

John Smith 

William Goforth to Nathaniel Massie. 

Columbia Feb. 11th 1803. 
Dear Sir: — I have taken an opportunity, by post, 
to inform you that my clover seed is now cleaned and 



224 The Life of Nathaniel, Massie. 

waits your order, I should be glad you would by next 
Post, or in such way as may be most agreeable to you, 
inform me of the number of apple trees you wish to 
have, and of what kinds: or if it should be agreeable to 
you, to determine the number and leave it to me to 
make out the assortment, I [believe I can furnish you 
with fifteen or twenty different kinds of excellent fruit, 
and by fixing talleys to them, you can by a little care 
in planting and makeing a record know what sort of 
fruit to look for or be able to take Scions for grafting 
from such as you would more particularly wish to 
propagate, and as the season is near at hand for sewing 
the grass seed and planting the trees: therefore it would 
be expedient for you to be in possession of them as soon 
as possible. I take the liberty to observe that Col. 
Worthington eno;a<>:ed half a bushel of ijrass seed of me 
and perhaps it might be convenient for you to send by 
one person, I further observe that a man who is a neigh- 
bour of Col. Worthington is to be down this spring in 
order to furnish himself with Scions for grafting, per- 
haps he might be engaged to take charge of them for 
you both. I would thank you, if any of your friends 
should wish to be furnished with clover seed to inform 
them I have several bushel by me for sale. I shall 
only add that I am with every sentiment of esteem yours 

William Gofouth. 
To Nathaniel Masste, Esquire. 

It was a bushel you spoke to me for which you may 
depend on my keeping for yon. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 225 



Daniel Symmes to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati 20th Februy— 1803— 
Col. Massey : 

Sir: — I trust that it will be unnecessary to apolo- 
gize to you for this intrusion — thus impressed I have 
taken the liberty of addressing a few lines to you — and 
permit me here Sir, to congratulate you on the unani- 
mous suffrage of }'our County for you as Senator — I hope 
to see you fill the chair in that Body — you have no doubt 
heard of the violent opposition made against me at our 
Election by the St. Clair faction who to carry their 
favourite Reily have in the most wanton and malicious 
manner progogated the vilest lies to injure me at that 
crisis — Mr. Armstrong (of the Camelion Tribe) to give 
weight to those falsehoods — made out a Statement in his 
official capacity which he certified to be true ; and from 
the trifling sum of Judges fees — say 40 or 50 Dollars he 
had augmented it to 12 or 1,500 $ — In short under the 
mask of a Republican he has used every means and all 
his art to divide and distract our Republican Institutions, 
and has uniformily persued such measures as would tend 
to split the republican Interest — and favour our enemies, 
but Johns cloven foot has lately made its appearance, 
and hence forward I think he must be equally detested 
by all parties. Last month Mr. Short arrived here with 
his Lady in good health, she was the widow of Armstead 
Churchill & daughter of Mrs. Mary Henry — 

They both set out for Kentucky last tuesday, Mr. 



226 The Life of Nathaniel Massic. 

Short despairs of being able to live among us as he can 
not do without his domesticks. 

I am told that a large possee of St. Clairs friends 
and favourites are going to the Legislature among whom 
are Schenck & 'Reily, each for a Clerkship and the rest 
for Commissions, offices &c tis presumed they will take 
different stands in the Town of Chillicothe to carry into 
effect their out door business — 

Col. Gibson is a candidate for the auditors office and 
I believe he will run pretty generally here I hope as he 
has discharged his duty well, and ever been a moderate 
man that you will consider of his application, and grant 
him your support if he should meet your approbation. 

I also beg leave to submit to you the Revd I. W. 
Browns application for the clerkship of the Senate, I 
trust he will meet a generous support from our Republi- 
can friends — 

Mr. Byrd & family are all well, he takes his Lady to 
Iventuckey in a few days and proposes being at Chilli- 
cothe the 20th of March— 

with esteem I remain your most Obdt Sevt 

Danl Symmes — 

Israel Donalzon to Nathaniel Massie. 

Manchester 16th March 1803 
Dear Sir; — Feeling a deep interest in the concerns 
of my country I want information from every source 
and hope you will inform me on the principle points of 
this truly important session and what will be the fate 
of our County whether any advantage would derive 
from raising money to erect publick buildings in this 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 227 

place in lieu of the contemplated plan of buying Land 
in the center of the County and laying out and spiling 
Lotts for that purpose. 

One of your horses sent down for the purpose of 
bringing on your Family took sick by the way and re- 
mains at this place David Massie went over yesterday 
to procure another and the carriage went down this 

Morning. 

I am Sir Respectfully yours to serve 

Israel Donalzon 

Jacob Burnet and others to Nathaniel Massie. 
(Circular.) 

Cincinnati 9th of May 1803 
Sir: — A number of your friends in this quarter im- 
pressed with a sense of the importance of the approach- 
ing election as it respects the honour and interest of the 
state determined to make exertions in favour of some 
qualified character to represent us in Congress if such au 
one could be induced to offer as a candidate. 

The day set apart for the election is so near at hand 
that it appears impossible to consult with our friends 
who reside at a distance on the propriety of a nomina- 
tion, this step would be extremely pleasing to us but 
should it be taken the opportunity of exertion would 
probably pass before we were prepared to act. Under 
these circumstances we concluded to make application 
to William McMillan who has reluctantly consented that 
his friends may make use of his name if they judge it 
prudent promising to accept the appointment should it 
be conferred. We have therefore concluded to support 



228 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

him and we hope the nomination will meet your appro- 
bation. Confident that if it does you will use your in- 
fluence. No doubt you feel anxious to give the state a 
representative whose principles have been tried, whose 
talents will be respected and who therefore must be 
worthy the trust and capable of executing. Your 
knowledge of William McMillan we have reason to 
think is sufficient to enable you to decide that he is such 
a character. Did not we believe him to be a person 
whose talents and integrity justly entitled him to the 
confidence of his fellow "Citizens we would not have of- 
fered him our support much less would we have solicited 
your influence in his favour. As the character of our 
state is but yet little known it will be judged of in some 
measure by his talents of our first representatives in 
Congress consequently our reputation as well as our in- 
terest is at Stake, which renders it the duty of all good 
citizens to unite their influence in favour of a person 
calculated to secure these important objects. From pres- 
ent appearances we have great reason to believe that if 
proper exertions are made in favour of the proposed 
candidate his election may be secured but if those per- 
sons who are disposed to aid in the choice of the most 
worthy candidate divide their influence it is more than 
probable the choice will fall on some person but little 
known and less qualified for the duties of the station. 
We are respectfully 

Your fellow citizens 
J. Burnet Ethan Stone 

Marten Baum John Eeily 

James Smith W. Stanley 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 229 



Charles Willing Byrd to Nathaniel Massif. 

Lexington, 10th of August 1803. 

Dear Sir:— At the desire of Mrs. Byrd I write to 
request that you will have some clausets put up in our 
Cabins; I believe I expressed to you my wish to have 
the fire places of the same width with yours in your 
dining room. 

Be pleased to advance to your brother H — as much 

money as he thinks will be necessary for the purchase 

of a few articles for me in Chillicothe of which he has a 

memorandum. Yours respectfully. 

Charles Willing Byrd. 
Colo. Massie 

Our love and compliments to Suckey and your 

sisters. 

Janus Sargent to Nathaniel Massie. 

Clermont County Washington Septmbr 19 — 1804. 

Dear Sir: — The Commissioners appointed Last 
session of the assembly to fix on the place for the seat of 
Justice in this county, has not come forward yet, the 
Citizens in this part of the county is very anxious for 
their coming, I have heard that one of these Gentlemen 
has declin'd to serve, but I am at no certainty of its 
being the case, I expect you are acquainted with those 
Gentlemen, and perhaps may know their intention, if 
either of them has declin'd coming I cou'd wish the 
others two to chuse the third out of Adams county, and 
perhaps it wou'd be as well for them to come the lime- 



230 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

stone road us far as Mr. Januarys, from there they wou'd 
come through a settled part of the Country. 

I am informed that Mr Jones of Hamilton County, 
that was nominated for one of the Electors, is mov'd to 
the Indianna Territory and Major Goforth is taken up in 
his stead, but do not know at a certainty that this is the 
case, the ticket I intend to support for Electors, is your- 
self, Mr. Pritchard, and any other that the Republicans 
in Ross think proper to nominate, and also Jeremiah 
Morrow for Representative to Congress, I live in so re- 
mote part of this County, that I have not the oportunity 
of information on these subjects — Information from you 
b} 7 letter lodgd in the post office Williamsburgh, or by 
any person coming to this part, on the above subjects, 
will much oblige Sir your hum Servt 

James Sargent 

George Gordon to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati, Norem. 20 1804 
Dear Sir: — After I left your house on Sunday last 
it struck my mind to otter my services to carry the 
Votes (for President and Vice President) of this state to 
the City of Washington — 

I called on Judge Goforth on my way home & ob- 
tained his influence, what makes me particularly desir- 
ous to convey them, I have a petition that will be laid 
before congress this session, & my being on the spot 
might save me from eight to nine hundred Dollars, 
which will totally be out of my power if I cannot pro- 
cure your Vote — my extream anxiety to be there must 
be my appoligy for thus importuning you — pleas write 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 231 

next post what you think of my success if I should be 

so fortunate as to succeed what time I must start from 

Chillicothe, or whether it would not be better for me to 

be there at or before the Votes are takeu — 

Your friend & Hum. Sevt. 

Geo. Gordon. 
~N. B. excuse this scrawl — 

J. Savary to Nathaniel Massie. 

Millersburg 15th Febry 1805. 

Sir: — We have passed an act in our last Genl As- 
sembly to invigorate the Ohio canal company, to which 
some priviledges & tolls have been granted for ever. I 
was firmly against, having proposed before another Bill 
on the Subject; to appoint Commiss'ers in order to ac- 
quire the previous informations on what was more con- 
venient, to clear the Channal, or cut a canal & to know 
the presumed expences & revenue & to dispose of the un- 
dertaking by Voluntary Subscriptions, or Lotery, or in 
fine to give it to a company at reasonable terms and for 
a Limited time ; but my poor & single opposition has 
been unavailing & that business of so great & national 
importance, has passed without other opposition & al- 
most without debates. 

I have the honour to be with Esteem 

Sir Your most obt Servant 

J. Savary. 
Gen'al Nat'el Massie. 



232 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 



Wyatt $ Redd to Nathaniel Massie. 

Lexington May 8th 1805 
Sir: — If you wish harness furnish'd to the Carriage 
we are making for you, We should he glad to know as 
soon as possihle whether you will have plated (or brass 
mounting) We also would be glad to know at what 
time you wish the Carriage finished, and in case we 
should not have it in our power to get it ready as soon 
as you wish it, we will write you immediately after the 
receipt of yours, informing you at what time you may 
send for it, you will write us immediately, and inform us 
in what manner the harness shall be made, If you wish 
a seat fixd on the body for the Coachman it will not be 
necessary to make a Postilion saddle : 

Yours with esteem 

Wyatt & Redd 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Washington Feby 16th 1806 
D Sir: — Your letter of the 7th ultimo did not reach 
untill the 6th instant. . . . 

I have according to your request prevailed on the 
post-master Genl to fix a postofiice at your town and ap- 
point Mr. Cutler postmaster. So far as I have been 
able to decide I do not apprehend a war with either 
Spain or England is probable though there would seem 
to be some danger of such an event from the publick 
prints. These you know do not always give correct in- 
formation. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 233 

The French Emperor has over-run Germany and 
has brought about events which like others he has 
effected that no human being calculated nor can we 
form anything like a correct opinion of where he will 
end. 

Indeed he is now becoming formidable to the whole 
world and many believe like Alexander he aims at uni- 
versal conquest. 

Mr. Pritchard informs me that he is a candidate for 
congress in opposition to Mr. Morrow. I am at the same 
time informed by letters from other members of the 
Legislature two days later than his that no meeting on 

this subject had taken place Mr. P therefore seems 

to have come forward on his own bottom and " on the 
solicitation of a number of our first character," as he 
himself tells me in his letter. You know this gentleman 
& Mr. Morrow therefore I will not trouble you further 
on this subject that to observe I hope we shall not get 
from better to worse in our representatives to con- 
gress. . . 

I enclose you a little book for Betsy you must tell 
her that I say she must learn to read before James and I 
will send her another pretty book. 

My respects to Mrs. Massie & Miss Nancy. 
Yours with much esteem 

T. WORTHINGTON. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Washington April 9th 1806 
Dear Sir: — I have nothing important to give you 
by letter but much to say to you when we meet & lest 



234 The Life of Nathan u i Massie. 

you should think me as bad a correspondent as yourself 
I will write and tell you so you will perceive b\' the 
public prints that the secret doings of congress was 
nothing more or less than the passage of a law appro- 
priating 2 millions of dollars to enable the president to 
purchase the Florida's of and settle our western boun- 
dary with Spain. So far I am able to decide I think 
there is no good reason to expect war with any nation 
whatever. The unexpected & extraordinary change 
which has taken place in the British Ministry at the 
most critical crisis in our affairs with that nation and as 
we believe favourable to our affairs will there is good 
reason to believe (so our minister writes) that our differ- 
ences will be amicably settled. The most disagreeable 
circumstance now existing among us is the 1 seism in the 
republican party which has been carried to the most 
disagreeable lengths. It is this to which I have refer- 
ence in the beginning of my letter and which propose to 
explain to you when we meet. Congress will adjourn 
on the 21st of this month. 

lieineinber me affectionately to Mrs. Massie and 
accept my best wishes for your health and happiness. 
Yours respectfully 

T. Wo-RTHINGTON. 

1 send you some little Books for my little friends 
Betsy & your son whose name I forget. 

(i iilum Granger to Nathaniel Willis. 

General Post Office April 14, 1806. 
Sir: — Mr. Andrew Marshall who contracted to carry 
the mail between Wheeling & Chilicothe has failed to 



Z%< Lifi of Nathaniel Massie. 235 

carry it according to contract, & it is probable is qo1 
competent to the undertaking. It has therefore become 
necessary to employ some person to carry the mail in 
hi- -trad. I wish you to make enquiry and inform me 
if you find any person willing t<> undertake to carry the 
mail in stages: with the name- and prices which they 
demand: in the meantime I wish you to have the mail 
carried on horseback on that route, until it is so im- 
proved that stages can pass 141011 it with proper expedi- 
tion. When on your return you will call upon the 
several supervisors of the roade & endeavor to persuade 
them to improve it. A line of stages would he of great 
advantage in carrying the mail and afford considerable 
accommodation to the inhabitants & I hope to see one 
erected as soon as the road is in proper order. 

I do not wish you to set your stages in motion he- 
tween Chilicothe A: Frankfort until they are in operation 
between Wheeling. & Chillicothe, but as soon as that i- 
the case yours must he in motion. And it must be un- 
derstood that if the Establishment of a line of Stages 
fails the contract price must be reduced to a fair 
equivalent on the whole route from Wheeling to Frank- 
fort, Ky., for horse mails. 

Your sincere friend 

<iri>*.\ Granger 
(Post Master <1< rn ral) 

Christ. Greenup to Nathaniel Massie. 

Frankfort J 11 hi 1st 1806 
Dear General: — Mr. Thomas &-. Hindi- informs me 
1.", 



236 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

he is to set out for Chilicothe in your State, perhaps to 
reside there, I therefore take the liberty to introduce 
him to your acquaintance and Civilities — Mr Hinde has 
transacted business here in several departments highly 
to his honour and the Satisfaction of the public. If you 
can assist him in his pursuits you will confer an obliga- 
tion on me which I shall always acknowledge with 
gratitude. I am with much respect 
Dear Sir 

Your Obt Servt 

Christ. Greenup 

John Graham to Nathaniel Massie. 

Dumfries 31st July 1806 
My Den- Sir: — A day or two ago I received a letter 
from my Brother Richard in which he tells me that you 
had informed him, you had written to me in April in- 
closing a copy of my account with you. That you may 
not be surprised at not getting an answer to your letter 
I hasten to inform you that I never received it — Richard 
writes me that my military lands over which you had a 
direction were sold at 2 Dollars per acre provided I ap- 
proved of the Sale — If you think it a good one I shall 
certainly approve of it and beg you will take such steps 
as you may think proper to carry it into effect — I hope 
to have the pleasure of seeing you in October early, as 
I intend to pass thro your state on my way to Kentucky 
& Orleans whither I shall be obliged to return some 
what sooner than I expected in consequence of the Gov- 
ernors having obtained leave of absence for the winter 
I have however some hopes (as they write me he is going 



The Life, of Nathaniel Massie. 237 

to be married) that he won't wish to avail himself of the 
permission granted him — in that case I shall be able to 
spend a month or six weeks among my old Friends in 
Ohio & Kentucky — I am here at present making ar- 
rangements for the removal of some negroes belonging 1 
to our Family to the westward — If we have no war with 
Spain or England I shall I think take them to the Mis- 
sissippi Country where their Labour will be very profit- 
able either on a Sugar or Cotton Plantation if we are to 
have a war I shall leave them in Kentucky until it is 
over — My Flan is to engage Richard to take charge of 
these negroes and go on myself to purchase a Place to 
fix them on so that you see it would be vastly con- 
venient to me to get some money for my military lands 
as I pass on or at least to have it so secured that I might 
draw on it to meet the payments for any land I might 
purchase in the lower Country. We have no news here 
of any consequence so far as I know tlio we have a right 
to expect "very early intelligence both from our nego- 
ciators at London & Paris — it would seem that Randolph 
speech has thrown some difficulties in the way of the 
former and I fear that the news Papers (which you know 
have been filled with declarations that we have bribed 
France to bully Spain) will embarrass the latter — I pray 
that I may be mistaken for it is important to us at 
Orleans that the United States should acquire the 
Country which is the object of the late mission to 
France & Spain — 

You will be pleased to hear that your old friend 
George has got a very fine son — his Father thinks him 
a perfect nonsuch & is of course very proud of him — 



238 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

I beg you to present me to Mrs. Massie & to your 

Brothers and believe me with the most Sincere Regard 

& Esteem. 

Your Friend & Servant 

John Graham — 
Gesl Nathl Massie 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Washington Novr 30th .06 
X). Sir: — I reed yesterday your letter of the 16th 
ultimo which Mrs. Worthington forwarded to me. I 
intended if I had heard of your arrival to have rode up 
to your house before I started but as I did not hear of 
your return I was obliged to set out without seeing you. 
I regret it because I wished to have had conversation on 
several subjects with you-. I am gratified to hear of the 
facts found by the jury in your cause and hope you will 
have but little more trouble with it. Watts has acted 
a simple part in my opinion from the commencement of 
this business. It will give me pleasure to transact any 
business for you in my power. I wish you would loose 
no time in informing me of what you wish done as I 
found it necessary to make the best arrangements in my 
power on the subject I had a conversation with Colo. 
McArthur in relation to my warrants & shall write you 
soon on the same subject. I have reason to believe you 
will have Vincent Hallers business done in good time. 
You will before this reaches you see the presidents 
proclamation in relation to western affairs. He tells me 
he has satisfactory proof that Mr. Burr has had the ac- 
complishment of one of these objects seriously in view. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 239 

• 

1st a seperation of the western from the Atlantic states. 
If this failed the 2nd is an expedition against the Span- 
ish province of Mexico and the 3rd was to serve as a 
cover to the two former should they fail which was to 
take his followers with him and settle lands granted by 
Spain to Baron Bahstross which lands either in part or 
the whole have been purchased by Mr. Burr & others. 
The first object failed in the onset & the second is now 
said to be in progression and will be also frustrated by 
the Government. You will be pleased to hear that in 
the whole of this business Ohio is unsuspected except 
only one man who I believe innocent. Our affairs with 
england are in a good way and there are good reasons 
for believing every difficulty will be settled. Our affairs 
with Spain remain precisely as they were 12 months 
since and little prospect of adjusting them. I have thus 
hastily given you what I considered most interesting to 
you & know you will have the goodness to communicate 
what you think interesting to your friends in the assem- 
bly as you know it is not in my power to write every 
gentleman. I will send by the very first opportunity the 
presidents message which I expect we will receive to- 
morrow perhaps the letter may cover it very 
Respectfully I remain 

Your Obt St 

T. Worth ington. 

Thomas Worthington to Nathaniel Massie. 

Washington Deer 24th 1806. 
Dear Sir: — I have nothing important to give you 
from this quarter. We are all anxiety to hear what Mr. 



240 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Burr is doing and for 3 weeks past the Marietta mail 
has failed to come to this place. I have not heard a 
word from you since the commencement of your session. 
I think if you wish to send any letters with safety you 
had better direct the postmaster at Chillicothe to send 
your letters by the Wheeling rout for although they 
may be a day or two longer they will be more certain. 
Yours very Respectfully 

T. WoRTHINGTON. 

Thomas Wovthington toNathaniel Massie. 

Washington Jany 29th 1807 
D Sir: — The last mail brought me your letter of 
the 17th inst. Your long silence I must acknowledge 
left me in doubt about the cause when I considered the 
importance of the transaction in which you were en- 
gaged. It will always give me very sincere pleasure to 
hear from you and discharge with sincerity & punctual- 
ity the duties I owe you as a friend a brother an old ac- 
quaintance — and fellow labourer for whom I have very 
sincere esteem. The Legislature of Ohio have done 
themselves immortal honour and as one of their agents 
here I have received the highest gratifications from the 
almost universal approbation expressed from every 
part of the union in favour of the course pursued by 
my fellow citizens of Ohio. The part I have acted from 
the commencement of our political existence as a state & 
before has been the cause of additional gratification to 
my mind. The conduct of Mr. Burr lias been the most 
extraordinary which was ever exhibited to any people. 
That a man of as good sense as I have always supposed 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 241 

him to have should form the wild the desperate plan of 
overturning this government the choice of the people 
and to involve it in Bloodshed and ruin when the people 
are happy and highly pleased in the present order of 
things fills the mind with horror and astonishment. 
Y ou_ will see in the public papers before this reaches you 
the whole of his nefarious schemes exposed to public 
view by the depositions of Wilkinson, Eaton & the com- 
munications of the president & other documents which 
I have forwarded to the printer at Chilicothe. From 
the best information we have received Mr. Burr will 
have after all a very contemptible few with which to ef- 
fect his mighty designs and of the course he will ulti- 
mately preserve we are left to' conjecture only. I have 
heard you had a bill before you to raise by lottery a sum 
of money to secure the bank at Chilicothe. I believe I 
shall be contented to wait untill I come home to get the 
tickets you mention & shall be satisfied if I find they are 
all sold. I have reed two of the resolutions of which 
you speak & am doing all in my power to effect the 
wishes of the Legislature but I doubt of success. Y^ou 
will remember when the convention were acting on the 
subject of school lands I told you it would be best to 
have nothing to do with the Virga M tract but to ask 
the proportion of school lands on the East side of Sioto. 
I was convinced it would be given by congress but the 
convention thought differently. It will be a melancholy 
circumstance to see the people of the Vira M. T. de- 
prived of the advantage of school lands whilst their fel- 
low citizens are amply provided for. It will be the 
cause of eternal dissatisfaction. I think in the last con- 



242 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

versation I had with you I understood from you that 
you thought an extension of the time unnecessary. I 
will however do all in my power to get lands elsewhere 
which will settle the business. If this. is done I have 
no objection to an extension of the time. Two of Mr. 
Burr's principal agents Balman & Swatwort are here in 
close Jail & will I presume be tried for treason ere long. 
I send you two little books which you will please give 
your little Daughter & Son in my name. Mr. Smith 
has arrived & taken his seat — With esteem & respect 

I am your Obt St 

T. WORTHINGTON. 

Please present my affectionate respects to Mrs. 
Massie. 

William Creighton, Jr., to "Nathaniel Massie. 

Chillicothe April 20th 1807 
D Sir: — I reed by Mr. Johnston your letter covering 
Warnack's agreement I have directed suits, the Sheriff" 
has promised me to have the writs served before Court — 
The Militia law will be compleated for delivery in 
two or three days. By the resolution of the Legislature 
I am directed to deliver to each of the Majors General 
six hundred copies, Will you have the whole number of 
copies forwarded or will you have the number you allow 
for this Brigade left here for distribution 'i 
Yours with respect 

Wm Creichton J ux. 



The Life of Nathaniel' Massie. 243 



Nathaniel Massie to Dei rid Massie. 

Mr. David Massie 

Si?*, you will receive a letter to Mr. James Abrahams 
with an agreement for their payment of two hundred 
and ninety three dollars on or before the first day of 
September next, but he is to pay the Greater part when 
called on for that purpose. Mr. Abrahams lives at or 
near red stone old fort, you will call on him and deliver 
the letter and show the agreement and if any money is 
paid credit him with it. You also have a letter to 
Joseph Crawford living about five Miles above red stone 
old fort to receive two hundred and ten dollars, call on 
him after you see Abrahams. — You also have a letter to 
Mr. Creighen living near Moorefield on the South branch 
of Potomack with an assignment from William Ray for 
one hundred acres of land for which Mr. Creighen will 
pay you two hundred and fifty dollars you will observe 
that the assignment is left blank for him to fill up to 
himself or any person that he pleases if the money is 
not paid you will keep the assignment, to find the way 
to Moorefield you will go by a Town by the name of 
Enmney Hampshire County from thence there is a road 
to Moorefield on the South branch and you have also a 
letter to Mordicai "Walker from David Faulkner living 
on Apple pye ridge Frederick Count}- Virginia to re- 
ceive one hundred and eighty dollars, also a letter to 
Col. Meade of Frederick for fifty seven dollars, If you 
receive all the money contemplated you will deposit 
what you may not want in the hands of some person in 



244 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

Alexandria that Colo. Ellzy will inform yon. Subject 
to the order of Mr. John Graham of Richmond, or you 
will exchange it for bank notes of the united States and 
enclose to him at Richmond on my account. On your 
way through Frederick you will call on Major Massie 
and deliver him the letter, I believe Col. Meade lives 
not far from Maj. Massies, from thence you will call on 
Col. William Ellzy living in Loudon Comity Virginia, 
not far from the City of Washington, you will observe 
by my letter to him that I have requested him to assist 
you with the business of obtaining pattents, and every 
other that you may stand in need of to him you will ap- 
ply for information by memo.s to obtain pattents is as 
full as I can make them, you will write me from Win- 
chester direct your letters to Washington Kentucky, by 
the time you reach Alexandria or shortly afterwards you 
will hear from me I shall direct my letters to you at 
Alexandria as I prefer you should stay at that place than 
the city the accommodation is cheaper and better and 
not more than six miles distant, I wish a pattent to be 
obtained as soon as possible for John Graham, survey of 
1000 acres No. 2337 and enclose to me at AVashington, 
Kentucky where you will direct all your letters. 

]$. Massie. 
Chillicothe 27 May 1807. 

P. S. You have also an order from Jno. Parrill 
Jun. to John Parrill Senr. for two hundred dollars he 
lives on Cape Capos on or near your road from Moore- 
field to Winchester find him out if possible the Or is in 
the letter take care and not let him have it unless he 
pays the money. N". M. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 245 



William Creighton, Jr., to Nathaniel Massie. 

Chillicothe August 23rd 1807 
Dear Sir: — I was anxious to see you before you set 
out for Kentucky to have some conversation on the sub- 
ject of the ensuing- election, it seems within the last three 
weeks two writers supposed to be the same person one 
under the signature of "A Farmer" the other "Frank- 
lin*' has recommended Colo Worthington to the people 
of the state for the next Governor, the Colo at first ap- 
peared to express great uneasiness that he was not 
willing or desirous of serving in that office, but that his 
patriotism and love of Country was such that if the 
people would right or wrong elect him that he could 
not get over serving — the way being thus prepared I 
was frequently consulted and told that his friends were 
determined at all events to run him and that it would 
l»e most advisable for the friends of each of you to have 
a meeting to see which would give way. I explicitly 
stated that your friends were as determined to run you 
as his friends could possibly be to run him that as to 
your declining a poll under any circumstances was cer- 
tainly out of the question, that you was the first spoken 
of in the state, that for yourself you had no desire or 
ambition to gratify in that way, that after numerous 
solicitations and as many refusals on your part, you was 
at length prevailed on by the personal and collective 
solicitations of a number of respectable Gentlemen from 
the different parts of the state to stand a poll, and that 
at this period to decline you would be acting inconsistent 



246 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

with yourself and improperly towards your friends. 
Notwithstanding this I know you will be hardly pressed 
to give way by one or two of the friends in opposition — 
and that when they find they are unsuccessful they will 
recede from the contest — A number of your friends have 
spoken to me on the subject, they say that you must 
stand a poll at all events let the result be what it may, 
they also think it is a duty you owe yourself and them 
to drop a line to your acquaintances in the different parts 
of the State if nothing more to let them know 7 that you 
are a Candidate — By the last mail I received a letter 
from Colo Pritchard he charged me with his best re- 
spects to you he says he will give you a majority in 
Jefferson Yours respectfully 

Wm Creighton Jun. 

John G-raham to Nathaniel Massie. 

Richmond 30th August 1807 
My Dear Sir: — I wrote to you not long before I left 
New Orleans to say that I was coming round to this part 
of the world. Since my return I have accepted the place 
in the Department of State lately occupied by Mr Wag- 
ner which was offered to me by Mr. Madison, and I need 
not I hope assure you that I shall take great pleasure 
in rendering you any service in my power during m} 7 
residence in the City. I should not I believe have ac- 
cepted this appointment but that I am about to form a 
matrimonial connection in that quarter of the world and 
my intended is unwilling to leave it at least for a year 
or two. To make the necessary preparations for House 
keeping I shall want all the money I can raise I should 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 247 

therefore be much obliged to you if you would remit me 
what you owe me if you can conveniently spare it. 

I have not my Papers with me and therefore cannot 
point out the amount : but your Books will enable you 
to come near it. On you I must depend for the amount 
of the Fees to which I was entitled for the Surveying I 
did when }"on, Peter Lee & myself were out together. 
Least some accident should happen to either of us, it is 
better that these old accounts should be settled up — I 
have been here for a month attending as a witness on 
the Trial of P>urr as yet nothing is done. The last ten 
days have been taken up by the lawyers in the discussion 
of some points of law growing out of these two cpues- 
tions — 1st Whether Burr being absent could be involved 
by any overt act of Treason on Blanerhassets Island — 
2nd Whether any such act has taken place there. These 
are questions which Burr has moved to the Court to de- 
cide on — and today the Judge will give his opinion — I 
will not close this letter until I can give it to you — 

afternoon — The Judge has given his opinion and it 
is such as puts an end to the Trial for Treason here. It 
was a very long one and I could not distinctly hear it — 
You will soon however see it in the Papers — Whether 
the Trial for Misdemeanor will now- commence or what 
will be done I know not. 

I beg you to present me to Mrs. Massie & say that 
her Brother Mr David Meade is well — I dined with him 
today — 

Wishing you Health & Happiness and success in 
your Election for I hear with great pleasure that you 



248 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

are a Candidate for the Government of your state & am 
My Dear Massie 

Very Sincerely your Friend & Servant 

John Graham 
The times require men of Firmness & Patriotism in 
office I therefore pray you to exert yourself in securing 
an election. 

John Mathews and others to Nathaniel Massie. 

Zanesville Sept 15th 1807 
Sir: — Among the Candidates for Governor we have 
heard you mentioned, but we never have understood di- 
rectly whether it would be agreeable to you to serve tin- 
State in that office, we therefore take the liberty to 
make the enquiry — and at the same time give our assur- 
ances that should you not decline being a candidate we 
will Support your Election with our Votes and interest — 
An answer to this directed to either of us as soon as 
convenient will be desirable 
We remain respectfully 

Your Most Obt Servt 

John Mathews John McIntire 

Levi Whipple IIenrey Crook 

Jno. Leavens David Herron 

Dan Conouch Robert Layson 

Genl Xatiil Masse 

Thomas Worthington to . 



D Sir: — On consultation with friends it is concluded 
desirable and proper that you should if you can con- 
sistant with your duty present a memorial to the legis- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 249 

lature requesting them to provide the way by which the 
Election of R. J. Meigs may be contested. It appears 
from the constitution that this would be the most correct 
course if therefore you think with us you will please 
loose no time in sending to some friend of this house a 
short memorial 

Yours Respectfully 

T. WuRTHINGTnX. 

Monday Morning. 

To the general assembly of tin StaU now in session. 

I have thought proper to acquaint you that so soon 
as you will by law provide the mode for contesting the 
Election of a Governor that I will on constitutional 
grounds contest the election of Return J. Meigs to that 
office. 

Chillicothe 14th decemr 1807 
A Copy Xath Massie 

John Graham to Nathaniel Massie. 

City of Washington 16th March .08 
My Dear Sir: — I received your Letter asking me 
for some information relative to the Treaty made by 
Governor Hull with the Indians. Inclosed you will find 
an Extract which will enable you to determine how far 
your conjectures were accurate. It may be proper to 
observe that several Tracts of six miles square are re- 
served by the Indians. 

I am really much pleased to hear that you are com- 
ing in and shall be very glad to see you here : you will 
observe however, by my writing to you now that I do n't 



250 The Life of Sathaniel Kassie. 

expect you this month — If you come during the next, 
yon will probably find me a House Keeper and I hope 
you will take up your residence with me while you stay. 
Be pleased to bring in with yon all the Papers or infor- 
mation which may be necessary for the settlement of our 
accounts, for no one but ourselves can settle them satis- 
factorily. Under a contract made by my Brother with 
Simon Kenton we are to give him $(300 in lands. You 
will oblige me very much if you will by some sort of ar- 
rangement pay this out of the 500 acres which you lo- 
cated of mine in the name of John Graham of Rich- 
mond. He tells me you have a land acct to settle with 
him. Take the 500 acres at their estimated value and 
pay Kenton the $600s worth of laud and give me the 
Balce in land elsewhere or in Horses — or if you find it 
more convenient let him have the $600s worth of land 
for me and you shall have that amount out of the 500 
acres — this will be an accommodation to me and I hope 
not inconvenient to you. 

Will have the goodness to urge your Brother to 
remit me by you the money due me on the 1st of 
Jany last as I am just beginning the world as it were 
I am somewhat pushed to make out cash for my nec- 
essary purchases of Furniture <tc and that Snm from 
him would help me prodigiously. 

I have written to my brother to send me in a pair 
of good strong Horses and my man David — I wish you 
would let them come with you. If he has not got the 
Horses and you can conveniently get such a pair as you 
think would suit me and at a reasonable price I should. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 251 

be obliged to you if you would bring them iu for me. 
You will readily believe that Horses have fallen very 
much in price. 

I fear with you that that conspiracy is not at an 
end — you must keep a good look out in the west, for 
there is great dependance on you, your state especially 
has got its name up by the promptitude and energy with 
which you acted last year. 

Nothing is to be expected from the mission of Mr. 
Rose — it will I presume be at an end in a few days and 
then a communication will be made to congress by the 
President of the negotiations with Great Britain as will 
those which relate to the Treaty as those which relate 
ti) the affair of the Chesapeake. It will then I think be 
made manifest in every true American that the adminis- 
tration have discharged with zeal & fidelity the Duties 
which they owed to their country. The People must 
now follow their example for the time is come to take 
an imposing attitude & show to the world that we are 
ready to maintain our Rights at the point of the Bay- 
onet. If we do this we may yet have Peace on honor- 
able terms ; tho I confess that my Hopes are by no 
means sanguine. 

You will see from the Public Prints that much has. 
been said on the subject of the Presidential Election. 
From the best information that I can get there is every 
reason to believe there is a large majority in favour of 
Mr. Madison. I hope it is so, for a warm contest under 
existing circumstances would be a most disastrous event 
16 



252 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

for our Country. I beg you to present me to Mrs. Mas- 
sie and be assured of my very sincere 

Regard & Esteem 

John Graham. 

Daniel Connie to Nathaniel Massie. 

Scioto Salt Works May 18th 1808 
Sir: — Having understood that you have a bank of 
Iron Ore which you intended to improve — Altho a 
Stranger to you Sir, I take the liberty of informing you ; 
that I have been engaged in that Business a number of 
years & profess to understand the Furnace as well as the 
Forge business. At present I am not engaged in either 
& would willingly assist actively or with Counsel in 
either of the above Branches — I am also acquainted 
with different kinds of Iron Ore— If you should think 
a personal Interview necessary & will inform me by the 
Bearer Mr. Stephen Radcliffe, I will cheerfully wait on 
you when & Avhere you may direct. 

Interim I am with Respect, your Obt. Sevt 

Danl Connir 

J no. Cropper to Nathaniel. Massie. 

Accomack County Virginia 2d June 1808 
Dear Sir: — The civilities received from you when I 
Avas in the western country, in the year 1804, induce me 
to take the liberty of introducing to your acquaintance 
Mr. Levin S. Joynes. He is the son of Col. Levin S. 
Joynes who served in the American army of the revo- 
lutionary war, and goes to look after the lands which 
his father obtained for his military services. 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 253 

Mr. Joynes is quite a youth, but is of very respect- 
able connections in this county, and of amiable char- 
acter. 

With much respect, 

Your obedient Servant 

Jno. Cropper. 

Jacob Burnet to Nathaniel Mass;,:. 

Cincinnati June 23, 1808. 
Dear Sir: — When I was last in Chilicothe, it was my 
intention to have some £hat with you, as to the situation 
in which you considered me placed by the conversation 
which passed between us in the year 1801 — You may 
recollect that at that time you gave me a half — request- 
ing me to consider myself generally retained for you in 
any case that might hereafter arise, to which I assented — 
Since that time some applications have been made to me 
against you which. I have refused— Israel Matthews 
spoke to me to be concerned in a case of his, in which 
I should have charged him a retainer of $25 — and such 
additional fee as the case might render proper — Col 
Watts also called on me offered a fee in a case which 
he said was of great importance and in which I should 
have charged him $50 as a retainer and such further fee 
as the difficulty and importance of the case might jus- 
tify, but in consequence of which has passed between 
us, I continued his offer alledging a prior engagement — 
But from length of time and change of circumstances 
as to the number of Counsel and the facility of employ- 
ing them it would be incorrect in me to desire you to 
be longer bound by anything that has heretofore passed 



254 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

between us on that subject, tho it will be correct and just 
that I should receive from you a sum equal to what I 
might have received from others, during the seven years 
that I have held myself retained, had the retainer not ex- 
isted — You will do me the justice, my friend, to believe 
that this communication does not proceed from a de- 
sire to be disengaged on a belief that your opponents 
(should you have any) will be more liberal than your- 
self, but from a belief or rather conviction that the same 
motives, which induced you to engage me in the first in- 
stance, do not now exist and also from a desire that the 
engagement if it does continue may be more explicit in 
its terms — In fact, I am not certain that you recollect the 
conversation by which I considered myself bounds as it 
took place in the confused moments of our parting at 
the close of a Session of the Legislature and a number 
of years have since elapsed — but be that as it may, I 
wish you now to consult your own wishes, and having 
done so, to inform me whether I shall consider myself 
generally engaged or not. 

It will occur to you that after it is generally known 
that an attorney is engaged for a particular individual 
in all cases — that attorney will not receive as many 
applications as he otherwise would do, in cases in which 
his employer is interested, consequently the number of 
such applications is not a correct criterion by which to 
determine the consideration lie ought to receive for his 

engagement. 

Your Obt friend 

Ja. Burnet. 



The Life of Nathan iel Massie. 255 



Duncan McArthur to Nathaniel Massie. 

Chillicothe 19th August 1808 
Sir: — Your letter of this morning I reed in which 
you very nearly acknowledge our agreement with re- 
spect to the land on Darby. But Sir perhaps it is most 
conveanut for you to have it canceled. 

You are pleased to lay strong Emphasis on the word 
"' friendship" when I said I located that land & refused 
the money for it, to enable you to comply with your 
promise to Major Petty, which I believe impartiality 
will say you ought to have done when it was in your 
power. I now sir, assure you that I have ever respected 
and Cheerfully acknowledged your friendship. 

I well recollect when young and poor, commencing 
business in your imployment, and it is a pleasing reflec- 
tion to me, that I have never desceived you in any busi- 
ness which you ever intrusted to my care. I may not, 
sir, have fully discharged the obligation which your 
former favours has laid me under, at a time when I be- 
lieved that our friendship was Keciprocal. But now Sir, 
I beg you to remember that, as it is at your request ; 
that our friendship is now at an end, until] that request 
is revoked, I shall ever endeavour to comply with your 
wishes. Your Ob Servt 

Duncan McArthur 
Genl K"athl Massie 

P. S. I am now at Messrs James & McCoy's store 
where you can have your money on returning my receipt 
to Mr. Milligan. When you find it conveanent, please 



256 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

to make me a quit-claim Deed for that part of the sur- 
plus laud in John Thompsons survey on Buckskin which 
I paid for. At the request of Mr. Philip R. Thompson, 
I wish to know if it will be conveanent for you to take 
up the notes which he put into my hand for collection 

D. McA. 

Duncan McArthur to Nathaniel 31assie. 

August 22nd 1808 
Sir : — Your 2nd note of the 19th Inst I reed. But 
must confess myself at a loss to understand the whole of 
its contents. You say, " I now call your attention to a 
late conduct of yours respecting those lands &c." If 
yon allude to changing the Entry, I ask Genl Massie if 
he does not recollect faulting the calls of the Entry, and 
requesting the alteration. - 

If you allude to the alteration lately made in John 
McDonalds Entry (over which I have no controal) I refer 
you to his letter on the files of the office, when you will 
see that he made and directed his own entry, which you 
certainly had time and oppertunity to prevent and even 
before he made his first entry there were several years- 
in which you might have made an alteration (if you 
thought proper) in yours, but I did not take that advan- 
tage of your neglect which was in my power; and I 
could mention to Genl Massie, if it was necessary, many 
other advantages which I could have taken of his busi- 
ness, and which through friendship I omitted, untill 
others availed themselves of the opertunity, and even 
the land from Greenfield for which I reed Horses and 
have just paid him money, I could, and would have 



The Life- of Nathan u I Massie. 257 

them entered ; had he not offered it for sale, and after 
you had entered it for Henry Meeehman, David Staferd, 
and others ; I was convinced it was not to stand. How- 
ever, improperly } 7 ou may have been impressed with the 
idea that I sought opportunities to take advantage of 
your business ; I do not wish to convince you of your 
mistakes, by endeavoring to show you my ingenuity in 
taking advantage of it — 

There is another paragraph in your note which I 
shall Quote and wish explained. "As to friendship I 
shall most cheerfully and indeed feelingly restore it to 
Genl McArthur, but under present circumstances I would 
not no nor I would have it if he had it to give" when 
this is done I shall know how to meet Genl Massie. — 

Genl Massie says " it was always foreign from him 
to ask a favour from a person with whom he was in the 
habits of friendship. I ask Genl Massie if he supposes 
those persons can always know his wishes or his 
Interest, except he by some means communicates it to 
them. Genl Massie never asked me to withdraw my 
400 acres entry on Darby, nor said that it was a breach 
of friendship in me to receive a person who has injured 
him as a friend; on account of his General character be- 
ing that of a Gentlemen, I can however assure him it is 

not mine. 

Yours respectfully, 

Duxcan McArthth. 

Wm. Creighton to Nathaniel Massie. 

Chillicothe, Jany 30th 1809 
Dear Sir: — On friday the 20th after you left us the 



258 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

High Court of Impeachment noted in the case of Judge 
Tod, 15 Guilty, 9 not Guilty, there not being a constitu- 
tional Majority the Judge was of course acquitted the 
votes stood as follows, Guilty, Messrs Abbot Barrow 
Bryan Curry Dillon Elliott Irwin McConnel McArthur 
McLaughlin, Price Sharp Smith Wood Kirker — not 
guilty Beggar Burton Bureau Cone Cooper Foos Kinuey 
Massie Schofield — The managers and the majority in 
the Lower House were so provoked at their failure in 
not having the Judge convicted that on friday evening 
after the decision of the Court was known the chair- 
man of the managers when they returned to the Repre- 
sentatives chambers submitted a resolution to adjourn 
immediately, by the next morning their determination 
was changed to be revenged they took up the Justice 
Bill and increased the Jurisdiction of Justice's of the 
peace to one hundred dollars in disputed cases, in 
undisputed cases to two hundred dollars, it is now de- 
pending before the Senate I can't say whether it will 
pass — A Bill has passed the Lower House establishing 
a new County between this and Franklin the lower line 
of the proposed County is within ten miles of Chilli- 
cothe — the last Bill is also before the Senate — This day 
Judge Pease appeared before the High Court of Im- 
peachment they have indulged him until Wednesday to 
prepare and file his plea and answer, he has just waited 
on me and asked me to defend him — the result in his 
case is very doubtful — In a day or two Mr. H. Massie 
and myself will dispatch a man to make collections for 
you, your wood cutters and haller do very well, they are 
very industrious and extremely attentive to their busi- 



The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 250 

tiess — immediately after you left us, the water rose about 
your house as high as it had rose the last fresh — We 
■could not persuade Mrs Massie to quit — she was here 
today in good health — the children are very well — 
Write me from "Washington. I shall be glad to hear 
the result of your suit, and shall with pleasure attend 
to any business you have here and wish transacted 
during your absence. 

Your friend & Hble Sevt 

Wm Creighton Jux. 
N. B. Give my compliments to Richard — 

Nathaniel Massie to his Win. 

Philadelphia "3d March 1800 
My dear Susan : — I got to this place on the Evening 
of the 1st Instant having left the city of Washington on 
the 20th February finding my suit could not be tried 
untill about the 20th of this month my sta} T at that 
place was not necessary and besides I believe it one of 
the dearest places on the Continent. Kidder visited me 
agreeable to appointment and stayed the whole day I 
was pleased with his enquiries, he is much stouter than 
I at first expected being 5 feet ten inches high nearly as 
tall as myself, but I felt myself considerable hurt at the 
omission of his education and he is quite sensible of it 
himself as he tells me that he understands very little of 
Arithmetic or of Grammar nothing, appears to be more 
his wish than to visit his friends next winter and in the 
meantime to attend to his education, you would hardly 
suppose but that he knew his age but it is a fact he does 
not, I am writing in a noisey Tavern, the rattling of carts 



260 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

and the prating of politicians, I know not which is the 
worst, I set out in a few minutes for Xew York and ex- 
pect to return to this place next Wednesday on my way 
to Washington. 

I flatter myself with meeting- Mr. McCoy either at 
this place or at Baltimore where I expect to hear from 
you ; not a word from any person since I left home, I 
feel extremely anxious indeed as your health was not as 
good as could be wished and your unpleasant situation 
would not contribute towards restoring it, Kiss the lit- 
tle ones for me and .tell them that I wish very much to 
be with them again 

Your affectionate Husband 

Nath Massie. 

Jesse Hunt to Nathaniel Massie. 

Cincinnati December 13th 1809 
General Massie : 

Sir: — Your favour of the 5th Inst came duly to 
hand adviseino- that vou had at Length got the Patent 
for our Land &c also your address to the President and 
directory of the Miami Exporting Company, which has 
been laid before this Board of Directors who have in- 
structed me to inform you that your note for fifteen 
hundred dollars with the Enclosures you have named 
will be discounted for 60' Days the usual time but the 
directory are not willing to come under any engagement 
or stipulation for a continuance, as that they avoid in 
all cases, if the funds of the company recpuire it, your 
note will be called on as others are, for my own part I 
think there is no doubt but the accommodation will be 



The Life of Nathaniel Massu . 261 

continued for 4 months and perhaps as long as you 

may require, but this you will consider as an Individual 

opinion — please to transmit to me a copy of the Patent that 

I may obtain a transfer from Mr Gordon as he assures 

me his is ready at any time to convey this Land also 

wish you to point out to me a place that we shall meet 

and Exchange Titles I hope it may be convenient for 

you to come to this place, if so please to Bring the Power 

from Mr. Graham. Our Discount days are tuesday or 

rather the note is to be put in on that day before two 

Oclock and on the Day following the money is paid out; 

with offer of my attention am Sir 

Your Obt Sevt 

Jesse Hunt 

William Sillimau to Nathaniel Massie. 

Zanesville, Deer 18, 1800. 

Dear Sir: — I do myself the pleasure of introducing 
Judge Heckewelder of the County of Tuscarawas — Mr. 
Heckewelder was one of the earliest Inhabitants of this 
State, having resided on the Muskingum nearly fifty 
years — and the head of the Moravian Society — Judge 
Heckewelder waits on the Legislature to procure the 
passage of a law to incorporate the Moravian Society. 

The grant by the government of the United States 
to the Society of three tracts of land renders it necessary 
that their business should be done by agents— and can 
be transacted much better in a corporate capacity — 

Your attention and interest I take the liberty of so- 
liciting — I am Sir respectfully, 

Your obt Sevt . 
Genl Massie W Silliman 



262 The Life of Nathaniel Mamie. 



John Cross to Nathaniel Massif. 

Geo. Town Ivy. Febry 24, 1810 

Dear Sir: — I have taken the Freedom in sending 
you a few lines hoping you will interest yourself in my 
behalf. 

You must know Sir that I have an intention of build- 
ing a Paper Mill in the State of Ohio and being a Stranger 
in that country, I hope you will give me all the Informa- 
tion you can in regard to Mill seats. 

Understanding that you own large tracts of land in 
Ohio, I have been recommended to you as a proper per- 
son for Information. Its my wish if possible to get a 
seat on a constant stream that is I mean one that will 
grind all the year anywhere between Chilicothe & Lan- 
caster would answer, a stream that will drive a grist 
mill would answer for a paper Mill as they take nearly 
the same force of water. I am a young man though 
married that has nothing but what I have earn'd but by 
Industry, consequently would not be able to give a high 
price for a Mill seat as the undertaking would be very 
expensive. 

If you can furnish me with one or give me Informa- 
tion where I can procure it I shall esteem it a favor an es- 
tablishment of that kind would be a great benefit to the 
people and a saving to the State as large sums of Money 
is carried out from this Western Country from our de- 
pendence upon foreign markets for this most valuable 
article — Paper. 

I am a Paper Maker by Trade having servd seven 



The Life of Nathan id Massie, 263 

years to that business ia old England and I think that I 
could make as good paper in your State as any in Amer- 
ica, I expect to be at Chilicothe in May or June in the 
meantime I hope you will write to me on that subject, 
I at present superintend the Paper Mill of Jas. Johnson 
& Co. at the Great Crossing near Geo. Town, Scot 
County, Keny. Your compliance with the above shall 
be esteemed as a great favor by 

Your Humble Sevt 

John Cross 
Genl Nath'l Massey, 

. N. B. I have been Informed that (Kinicannick) I 

believe is the name of the stream near Chilicothe would 

answer if there is a seat that could be procured on it, as 

I am told its a small stream and a constant one such a 

one I would prefer — 

John Cross — 

Nathaniel Massie to David Meade, 

Falls of paint creek 23rd Nor. 1811 
Dear Sir: — By a letter I received from Mr. George 
Clark lately he mentions that he had sent a Girl to your 
house to wait until she could be sent for, the bearer 
John Claybourn comes for that purpose, I flatter myself 
from the character given her by Mr. Clark that she will 
be useful to us, Sukey informed me that she had an- 
swered your letter to her on the subject of our removing 
to your part of the country, I can assure you that it 
would give me great pleasure and I am confident that 
Sukey would cheerfully join in adding comfort to her 
parents in their declining days, but our increasing family 



264 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

renders it necessary for us to remain in this country 
where the only resource for their support and education 
I have. I make no doubt but you are well apprised of 
the difficulty of disposing of property in this country to 
any considerable amount for cash without great sacri- 
fice, without which there could be nothing done, I am 
at present engaged in erecting a furnace, my pros- 
pect of ore is abundant should my expectation be real- 
ized, and wealth added to the extent that would justify 
our quitting this country I shall not hesitate to do so, 
but on the contrary If I am disappointed we shall have 
to struggle with our difficulties, and remain where we 
are, the boy waits 

I am with great regard 

Your friend 

ISTath Massie 

Duncan McArthur to Nathaniel Massie. 

Zanesville Deer 17th 1811 
Dear Sir: — I suppose my note in Bank for the use 
of Mr. Willis will become due shortly. I hope he will 
pay it oft* now if ever, but if he should not, as you and 
Mr. Pauls are endorses and equally bound with myself, 
I wish you would put in another note and I will ever 
consider myself equally bound with you for the payment 
of it, 

When I saw you last I then expected to have had 
time to have conversed with you on the subject of the 
Ironworks, but being called on to view the ground for a 
road from Athens to Chillicothe, the week before I left 



The Life, of Nathaniel Mossi, . 265 

home for this place, put it intirely out of my power to 
<lo so. I still feel a wish to be concerned in the Iron- 
works which may be erected on paint creek and think it 
probable that I could meet one third or one fourth part 
of the expences. 

But as I have no idea of the manner in which 
the business now stands I can say but little on the 
subject, 

A Bill repealing the law commissioning certain offi- 
cers passed the 2nd reading in the house of repr. last 
evening 28 to 18, but I have but little expectation that it 
will pass the senate. 

The usual exertions are making to prevent the seat 
of government being removed to Chillicothe, I fear the 
members to the West & N. W. will join the Eastern 
members to fix the perment seat at the walnut plains and 
keep the temporary seat, here they talk of the bank of 
the Scioto East of Franklinton, but there is but little 
said about selles. I am however, in hopes that the ex- 
ertions of the Tammany society, here, to prevent the re- 
peal of the commissioning law will be a means of re- 
moving the seat of government from this place but on 
the other hand Col. Dunlap's exertions in favour of the 
sweeping resolution, will opperate against its returning 
to Chillicothe. 

I wish some of his Tammany friends would advise 
him on the subject. The Tammany and resolution 
members chiefly live in that upper end of the state and 
will at all events oppose the removal of the seat of gov- 
ernment whilst our friends who are insulted at the con- 



266 The Life of Nathaniel Massie. 

duct of the Colo, and Tammany men chiefly reside to- 
the \vest. In haste I am Dear Sir 

Your Ob. Hb Servt 
Genl Xathl Massie Duncan McArthur 

Duncan McArthur, T. Worthing/ton and David Kinkead 
to Nathaniel Massie. 

Circular Chillicothe Octr 7th 1812 

Sir: — As your name is held up to the public as an 
Elector of President and vice President, & as it is im- 
portant to your fellow citizens to know who you intend 
to support for these important offices. We have been 
requested by some of them, to address you on the sub- 
ject. We therefore in their behalf and our own, request 
you to state in the most unequivical manner, who you 
mean to vote for as President & vice President — should 
you be elected. 

We deem it unnecessary to inform you that we are 
firm supporters of James Madison for President & El- 
bridge Gerry for vice President, as we presume, our opin- 
ion will have no effect on your determination. But as 
violent exertions are making in several of the states to 
Elect Dewit Clinton the next President, it is all import- 
ant that your sentiments should be known on the subject. 
You will please forward your answer to us, and to 
the Editor of the paper nearest to you for publication, as- 
soon as possible. Very respectfully 

We are sir, your friends and fellow citizens. 

Duncan McArthur 
t. worthington 
Genl Xathl Massie. David Kinkead. 



The Life of Nathaniel 31assie. 267 



James Morrison to Nathaniel Massie. 

Franklinton Jany 22 1813 

Dear Sir: — I have received yours of 17th Inst by 
Mr. Wood — At this moment there is no Birth in my 
power to bestow, worthy Mr. Woods acceptance — 

Gen'l Harrison never mentioned, or ordered me to 
purchase Cannon ball if he should, it would give me 
pleasure to make a contract with you. 

But recollect making Cannon Ball is more difficult 
than you suppose — they cannot be made such as they 
ought to be save in Iron moulds — preparing of which 
requires Iron of the most unliable quality, and a man of 
some mechanical talents to turn them out perfectly 
true — I have had considerable experience in this busi- 
ness — and before you undertake (should an apply offer) 
to make a contract, inquire where you could find a man 
capable of making the moulds. 

I pray you to have the conveyance made to I Ross 
for the 200 acres of land in Ky. 

I would advise you to write to the Sec'y of War, 
thro some friend at Washington. 

I think from your local situation you could get a 
contract for Ball. The price I have given for Ball de- 
livered at Orleans to J. D. Owings was from 90 to $120 
per ton. I am in haste 

Bear Sir 

Your friend & II St 
Genl !N\ Massie James Morrison 

17 



268 The Life of Nathaniel Masm . 

The foregoing letters are all in the possession of 
David Meade Massie, except the six marked f, which 
were copied from " The St. Clair Papers." 



Appendix A. 269 



APPENDIX A. 

Containing a Few Brief Explanations Concerning Some 
of the Foregoing Letters. 

Baldwin, Michael. A native of Connecticut. Well 
educated. Came to Chillicothe about 1799. A brilliant 
lawyer — the idol of the rabble. Active member of the 
Republican party. Accompanied Worthington to Wash- 
ington in their interests. Member of the Constitutional 
convention and first Speaker of the Ohio House of Rep- 
resentatives. Died when only thirty-five in 1811. Many 
interesting anecdotes are related concerning him. 

Brown, John. A native of Virginia. Educated at 
Princeton. Soldier in Revolution. Emigrated to Ken- 
tucky. Member of Continental Congress. Member of 
Congress. First United States Senator from Kentucky. 
Prominent in securing admission of Kentucky to Union. 
Died in 1837, the last survivor of the members of the 
Continental congress. 

Burnet, Jacob. A native of New Jersey. Educated 
at Princeton. Came to Cincinnati in 1796. A leading 
lawyer. Member of the legislative council of the north- 
west territory. United States Senator from Ohio. An 
able and ardent supporter of Governor St. Clair and 
author of "Notes on the Early Settlement North- West- 
ern Territory." 



270 Appendix A. 

Byrd', Charles Willing. Son of Colonel Win. Byrd 
of Westover, Va. Educated in Philadelphia as a lawyer. 
Emigrated to Kentucky. Married a sister of General 
Nathaniel MassieVwife. Appointed by President Adams 
secretary of the north-west territory in 1799. Became act- 
ing governor on General St. Clair's' removal from that 
office. An ardent Republican member of Constitutional 
convention. Appointed United States District Judge by 
President Jefferson, serving as such until his death in 
1828. 

Creighton, William. A native of Virginia. Att'y 
at law. Came to Chillicothe in 1799. First Secretary of 
State of Ohio, served seven years. Twice a member of 
congress. First a Republican, afterwards a Whig. Mar- 
ried a sister of Mrs. Massie and Mrs. Byrd. 

Donaldson, Israel. Member Constitutional conven- 
tion. See his Indian adventure in chapter 3. 

Fowler, John. Revolutionary soldier. Member 
congress from Kentucky 1797-1807. 

Graham, John. Born in Yi\. Educated at Colum- 
bia College. Emigrated to Kentucky. Chief clerk State 
Department, under Secretary of State, James Madison. 
Secretary at ISTew Orleans. Secretary of Legation at 
Madrid. Special mission Buenos Ayres. Minister to 
Portugal. Resident at Rio Janeiro. Died in 1820 in 
his forty-fifth year. 



Appendix A. 271 

Granger, Gideon. Postmaster General under Pres- 
ident Jefterson. 

Greenup, Christopher. Member congress from Ken- 
tucky 1791-1797. Governor of Kentucky 1804-1808. 

Goforth, William. Member Constitutional conven- 
tion. 

Harrison, William Henry. A native of Virginia. 
Setretary of north-west territory. Representative in 
congress. United States Senator from Ohio and Presi- 
dent of the United States. 

Meade, Richard K. Aid-de-camp on General 
Washington's staff during the revolution ; father of 
Bishop William Meade of Virginia. 

Meigs, Return Jonathan. Native of Connecticut. 
Graduate of Yale. Emigrated to Marietta in 1788. 
Judge Supreme Court north-west territory, also of 
Louisiana territory. United States Senator. Governor 
of Ohio and Postmaster General in both Madison's 
and Monroe's cabinets. 

James, Thomas. Married a sister of General 
Massie. Father of Mrs. Dr. Bush of Lexington, Ky., 
and Mrs. Nathaniel Pendleton of Cincinnati. 

McArthur, Duncan. Native of New York. An early 
immigrant to Chillicothe. Surveyor. Friend to Massie, 
Worthington and Tiffin. Brigadier-General regular 



272 Appendix A. 

array, in war of 1812. Member of congress and Gov- 
ernor of Ohio. 

Smith, John. Member territorial legislature of 
north-west territory, of Constitutional Convention, and 
United States senator from Ohio 1803-1809. 

Sargent, Wiuthrop. First secretary of north-west 
territory and Governor of the Mississippi territory. 

Symmes, John Cleves. Founder of Cincinnati. 

Symmes, Daniel. President of Ohio State Senate 
during second and third general assemblies. 

St. Clair, Jr., Arthur. Son of Governor St. Clair 
and Attordey-General of the north-west territory. 

Tiffin, Edward. Born in Carlisle, England, June 
19, 1766. Came to Berkeley county, Va., when eighteen. 
Studied medicine at University of Pennsylvania. Mar- 
ried a sister of Thomas Worthington. Manumitted his 
slaves in 1796 and emigrated to Chillicothe. Speaker 
of territorial legislature of north-west territory. Presi- 
dent of Constitutional Convention. First governor of 
Ohio and afterwards a United States Senator. Man of 
character and ability and took a leading part in the con- 
test with Governor St. Clair. Unfortunately his letters 
and papers have been destroyed. Living in the same 
place with Massie, they naturally had little or no cor- 
respondence. 



Appendix A. 273 

Wilkinson, James. A native of Maryland. Officer 
in the Revolution. Engaged largely in trade on the Ohio 
and Mississippi rivers. Intrigued with the Spaniards. 
Stirred up much political strife in Kentucky. Brig- 
adier-General in the regular army. Accused of many 
evil things, but never convicted, unless by public opinion 
and historians, who devote much space to him. 

Worthington, Thomas. Born in Jefferson county, 
Va., in 1769. Emancipated his slaves and came to 
Chillicothe about 1796. Member of the territorial 
legislature. Member of Constitutional Convention. 
One of the first two United States Senators from Ohio 
and Governor of the state. A man with an educated 
mind and polished manners. Represented the Republi- 
cans of the territory at Washington during their struggle 
for statehood and did much to bring about that result. 
His letters here published for the first time throw much 
interesting; lio-ht on that whole transaction. 



274 



Appendix B. 



APPENDIX B. 



Jany 

Gen'l N. Massie 


15, 1809. 


To Scioto Bank Lottery 


Dr. 


To tickets from No 97 to 200 is 


102 


from 1401 to 1500 


. 100 


3625 to 3776 


152 



Tickets 

Returned July 7th 1808 77 tickets 
between Nos 1401 & 1480 
Dead Tickets — by return 55 " 
Drawn by Bank 13 

Tickets 

209 Tickets at $2.50 each is 



354 



145 

. 209 

. $522.50 



Sir: — The above is presented for examination & cor- 
rection if necessary — Send me a bill of your charges 
against the lottery if any — the prize Tickets on hand 
by their members 

Respectfully I am 

Sir Your Obt Servt, 

John Kerr, 

Sec'y 
Gen'l N Massie January 15th 1809 



Appendix B. 275 

1811 Wm Surrel Dr. 

Deer 8th To eash reed of Geirl Massie and J. 

Taylor Esq $33.00 

Cr. By expenses going to Zanes- 



ville . . . $2.68f 

By Do 9 days in Zanes- 

ville . . . 17.061 

of which $5.81^ was for drink 
By Cash to Servants . . .62| 

By D to Barber & Washer- 
woman . . . .50 
By expenses returning home 2.06^ 



J2.9a| 22.93! 



Balance doe . . $10.06^ 

The 7 days I staid after your business was finished, 
were at my own expense, and began the 23 day of Jany — 
your business being finished on tuesday evening the 22nd. 

(The above is the bill of an early lobbyist.) 



Reed of James Sibet twelve dollars and seventy four 
cents in pay for two inn & two out lotts in the town of 
Chillicothe No. Ill & 120 inn lotts and out lotts No 91 
& 67 Duncan McArthur 

for Nath. Massie. 

Test 

Jos R Gltnn 



276 Appendix B. 

Philadelphia, Oct. 23d 1795. 

Received from Mr. Nathaniel Massie Nine dollars 
being the Subscription for the Philadelphia Gazette and 
Universal Daily Advertiser, from the twenty third day 
of October 1795 to the twenty third day of October 1796. 

For Anclw Brown 

James Cary 



Sepr 8th 1796 Received of Nathaniel Massie four- 
teen shillings & 6d being the ballance of my proportion 
of Indian Property taken in May 1795. 

Archibold McDonald. 



Major Nathaniel Masseb 

Sir: — I have sold my right title claim and interest 
in and to lott No. 5 in the town of Chillicoffee (As- 
signed me by lott) to Thomas Worthington and desire 
that the same may be conveyed to the said "Worthing- 
ton at the expiration of the time fixed on for lott s to 
be conveyed to settlers in said town by you and this shall 
indemnify you for so doing given under my hand this 21st 
day of July 1796. 

Witness present 

Jno Machir 

Anthony Smith Fielden Atchison 

Reed July 21st 1796 of Thomas Worthington 



Appendix B. 277 

Twenty dollars as a full consideration for the lott above 

mentioned which I have sold unto him 

Fielden Atchison 
Test 

Jno Machir 



Nathaniel Massie to Mealhouse. 

I promise & oblige myself, my Heirs, Executors or 
administrators to make a good and sufficient deed unto 
John Mealhouse, his Heirs or assigns, unto One Hundred 
acres of land on the waters of the Sioto known and dis- 
tinguished by (No 27), also One Inn lott in the town of 
Chilicothe known by (No. 48), and one out lott in said 
Town containing four acres (No. 4), the conveyance to 
be made on or before the first day of April next insuing 
the date hereof, on the said Mealhouse or assigns com- 
plying with the conditions of settling in the town of 
Chilicothe from the present period, I bind myself my 
Heirs Executors & administrators in the penal sum of 
Three hundred dollars; in witness whereof I have set 
my hand and seal this 3d day of December 1796 

Witness 

Wm Latton Nath. Massie 



Mr. Nathaniel Massie 

Sir: — You will please convey my donation out Lott 
No Thirty nine in the town of Massieville, commonly 
known by the name of Chillicothe, to Thomas Wor- 
thington he having paid me the sum of ten pounds as a 
full satisfaction for the said lott and this shall indemnify 



278 Appendix B. 

you in so doing given under my Hand this 20th day of 
July 1797 
Test 

Michael Thomas Andrew Edgar 



I do certify that I Weighed Six English Guineas 

for Mr Jos Gardner which weighed thirty two penny 

weights wanting one grain which at eighty nine cents pr 

pennywt conies to 28.45 

Chillicothe Feby 15th 1802 

Jno Waddle 



Prices of various articles at Chillicothe as shown by old bills 
and receipts during, her early days. 

Coffee, 47 cents per lb. 

Pork, $2,50 per hundred. 

Tea, $2.00 to $2.50 per lb. 

Sugar, oly cents to 37J cents per lb. 

Whiskey, 50 cents per gallon. 

Brandy, $3.50 per gallon. 

Salt, $2.00 per bushel. 

Cut glass tumblers, 37J cents each. 
Bar iron, 10 cents to 11 cents per lb. 
Tin pans, $1.00 each. 
Iron chafing dish, $2.25. 
Shovel and tongs, $2.00 per pair. 
Iron spoons, $2.00 per dozen. 
Spades, $1.75 each. 
Shovels, $1.25 each. 



Appendix B. 279 

Shoes, $2.50 to $3.00 per pair. 

Boots, $5.50 per pair. 

Pins, 50 cents per paper. 

Cotton hose, $2.25 per pair. 

Bandana handkerchiefs, $1.00 each. 

Calico, 50 cents per yard. 

White flannel, 62^ cents per yard. 

Baize, $1.25 per yard. 

Muslin, 37i cents per yard. 

Brown holland, 58 cents per yard. 

Superior blue cloth, $7.00 per yard. 

Making suit of clothes, $3.75. 

Silk per skein, 12^ cents. 

Pair Ross blankets, $10.50. 

Horses, $35.00 to $100.00 each— average, about 
$50.00. 

Cows, $9.00 each. 

Oats, 33 J cents per bushel. 

Hay, $7.00 per ton. 

Wheat, 66§ cents per bushel. 

Corn, 33J cents per bushel. 

Flour, $2.00 per 100 pounds. 

Plank— walnut and poplar— $1.25 to $1.50 per hun- 
dred. 

Wages seem to run from 50 cents per day up. 

Country linen, sugar and whiskey passed for cash. 



INDEX. 



A. 

Adams County, 66. 

Adams, John, 77 ; address to. 69. 
Anderson, Richard Clongh, 28. 
Appendix A, 269. 
Appendix B, 274. 

B. 

Baldwin, Michael, 64, 78; goes to Washington, 78; Speaker House of 

Represenatives, 90. 
Bedinger, Henry, letter, 218. 
Blennerhasset, !>2. 
Brown, J., letters, 113, 153, 198, 207. 

Burnet, Jacob, 76, 80 ; quoted, 26, 75, 76 ; letters, 227, 253. 
Burr, Aaron, conspiracy, 92. 
Byrd, Charles Willing, 75, 83; U. S. Judge, 91; letters, 161, 162, 163, 

164, 170, 171, 173, 205, 209, 210, 216, 229. 

C. 

Cass, Lewis, 93. 

Chillicothe, first attempt to .settle, 59 ; settlement, 62 ; location, 62; 
named, 63; character of inhabitants, 63; lots assigned, 63; cap- 
ital, 73; mob, 78. 

Cincinnati, 24, 25, 49, 78. 

Congress, divides territory, 73 ; refuses to change boundaries, 78 ; 
authorizes constitutional convention, 82; approves constitu- 
tion, 90. 

Connir, Daniel, letter, 252. 

Constitutional convention, 82; forms constitution, 85; submission 
of constitution to popular vote, 86 ; negro suffrage, 86 ; criti- 
cisms, 88. 

(281) 



282 Index. 

Creighton, Win., 91 ; elected Secretary of State, 91 ; letters, 242, 245, 

257. 
Cropper, John, letter, 252. 
Cross, John, letter, 262. 
Cutler, Dr., 78. 
Cutler, Ephraim, 83. 

D. 

Darlington, Joseph, 66. 

Donaldson, Israel, letters, 151, 203, 215, 226. 

E. 

Ellzy, W.i Jr., letter, 121. 

F. 

Fallen Timbers, battle of, 57. 

Fearing, Paul, 78. 

Federalists, 77. 

Finley, Robert W., 58 ; letter, 58; quoted, 59. 

Finley, Samuel, 66. 

Fowler, John, letters, 188, 196. 

G. 
Gallipoiis, 49. 

Goforth, Win., letter, 223. 

Gordon, Geo., letter, 230. 

Graham, John, letters, 132, 148, 149, 151, 211, 236, 246, 249. 

Granger, Gideon, letter, 234. 

Green River, 24. 

Greenup, Christopher, letter, 235. 

Greenville Treaty, 57. 

H. 

Harrison, Wm. Henry, 73, 102; becomes Governor of Indiana Terri- 
tory, 74 ; letter, 155. 
Hunt, Jesse, letter, 260. 

I. 

Indiana Territory, 73. 

Indians, in Kentucky, 17 ; in Virginia Military District, 26. 



Index, 283 



J. 

James, Thomas, letter, 208. 

Jefferson, Thomas, 20, SO; President, 77; removes St. Clair from 
office, 83. 

K. 

Kentucky, 16 ; early politics of, 20. 

King, Rufus, History of Ohio, 73 ; quoted, 78. 

Kirker, Thomas, 100. 

L. 

Langham, Elias, 66. 

Legislature, First territorial, 66 ; second session of, 74. 

Legislature, Second territorial, 77; consents to division of territory, 
78; removes capitol, 78; first state, 91; second state, 92; fifth 
state, 92"; eigth state, 92; quality of members, 92. 

M. 

Machir, John, letters, 11<>, 178. 

Manchester, 47 ; contract, 47 ; founded, 49; dangerous position, 49; 
Indian adventures at, 50; picture of life at, 56; historical in- 
terest, 57. 

Marietta, 24, 25, 49. 

Martan, John, letter, 109. 

Massie family, 14. 

Massie, Henry, 64; founds Portsmouth, 64; letter, 216. 

Massie, Nathaniel, birth, 15; education, 15; revolutionary soldier, 
15; backwoodsman trader in Kentucky, 19; early political sur- 
roundings, 19, 21 ; personal appearance, 21 ; surveyor, 29 ; land- 
owner, 29 ; surveying adventures, 30 ; business policy, 63 ; founds 
other towns, 64; member first territorial legislature, 66 ; contro- 
versy with St. Clair, 67; resolution, 74; member second terri- 
torial legislature, 77 ; charges against Governor St, Clair, 79 ; 
elected member of constitutional convention, 82; significance 
of conflict with St. Clair, 84 ; elected President of state Senate, 
90; services in Senate, 92; elected member ef second general as- 
sembly, 92; fifth general assembly, 92 ; eighth general assembly, 
92 ; presidential elector, 93 ; contest with Meigs, 93 ; services in 



284 Index. 

militia, 100; political estimate, 102; business life, 104; hos- 
pitality, 105; home, 105; wife, 106; children, 106; death, 106; 
burial, 107; estimate as a man, 107; letters, 115, 122, 125, 129, 
142, 174, 177, 182, 184, 189, 193, 219, 243, 249, 259, 263. 

Massie, Nathaniel, Sr., 14; letters, 114, 118. 

Massie, Thos., Jr., letters, 108, 120. 

Matthews, John, letter, 248. 

Meade, Colonel David, 106. 

Meade, Richard Kidder, letters, 157, 168. 

Meigs, Return Jonathan, 93 ; contest with Massie, 93; letter, 166. 

Morrison, Jas., letter, 267. 

Morrow, Jeremiah, 91. 

Mc. 

McArthur, Duncan, 64, 93; letters, 255, 256, 264, 266. 
McDonald, John, quoted, 18, 30, 50, 56, 62, 100, 101, 105. 

N. 
Negro suffrage, 86. 

North-West Territory, 23 ; government of, 65 ; census of, 65 ; di- 
vided, 73. 

O. 

Ohio, becomes a state, 90 ; first election of state officers, 90 ; first 
general assembly, 91 ; second general assembly, 92 ; fifth general 
assembly, 92 ; eighth general assembly, 92. 

Ohio Company, 24. 

Ordinance of 1787, 23. 

P. 
Paint Creek, 57, 62. 

Politics, in Kentucky, 20; beginnings of, in Ohio, 68. 
Portsmouth, 64. 

R. 
Republicans, 68, 77, SO, 82. 
Revolution, 15. 

S 
Sargent, Jas., letter, 229. 
Sargent, W., letter, 131. 
Savary, J., letter, 231. 



Index. 285 

Scioto River, 25, 57, 02, 77. 

ShawneeSj 26. 

Silliman, Win., letter, 261. 

Smith, John, 91 ; letters, 156, 222. 

Statehood, 79, 80; agitation for, 80. 

St. Clair, Arthur, Jr., letter, 169. 

St. Clair, General Arthur, Sr., 65,78; veto, 67 ; political principles, 
68 ; letter to Ross, 69 ; division of territory, 72 ; reply to resolu- 
tion, 75; adjourns legislature, 75; reappointed Governor, 77; ad- 
dresses constitutional convention, 82 ; removed, 83 ; letters, 138, 
143. 

Surveyors, 17. 

Symmes, Daniel, letter, 225. 

Svmtnes, John Cleves, 24; letter, 165. 

T. 

Tiffin, Edward, 66; member territorial legislatures, 66, 73. 77; con- 
stitutional convention, 82 ; elected Governor, 90. 

V. 

Vincennes, 73. 

Virginia, 11 ; land bounties, 24; Military District, 25; land system, 27. 

W. 

Walker, David, letter, 152. 

Watkins, Jos., letters, 120, 124, 127. 

Waw-wil-a-way, 106. 

Wayne, Anthony, victory, 57, 65; treaty, 57, 65. 

Wilkins, Chas., letter, 175. 

Wilkinson, General James, 19; letters, 111, 114, 119. 

Worthington, Thomas, 64, 66, 80, 81; visits to Philadelphia, 73; 

member territorial legislature, 66, 77 ; goes to Washington, 78, 90 ; 

elected United States Senator, 90; letters, 132, 134, 137, 154, 159, 

173, 176, 179, 180, 187, 191, 194, 197, 200, 204, 205,207,220,221, 

232, 233, 238, 239, 240, 248. 
Wyatt & Redd, letter, 232. 



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